Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 31/1/24

Deliverance: after a dry patch, a deluge of media statements

After several days in which ministers had little to post on the government’s official website, there has been a flurry of activity.

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly delivered a speech, Health Minister Shane Reti delivered an assurance about free Rapid Antigen Tests, and Regulation Minister David Seymour delivered the bill that will shut down the Productivity Commission.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Govt spending on expired rat tests is 'out of the gate'

There has been so much money wasted by the Government in the last six years that it really takes something quite profligate to warrant a mention nowadays.

And man alive does the money wasted on those expiring Covid RAT kits warrant a mention. That wastage is out the gate and completely unnecessary.

Last week we thought it was just $160m worth of kits due to expire without being used, today we find out it’s actually $530m worth.

Kate Hawkesby: We're in Phase 3, it's now time to let it go

 

So we’re into Phase 3 as of today – and not before time. 

Problem is, nobody knows what any of it means. I was out all day yesterday driving around Auckland and what I can tell you is that there are still snaking queues everywhere for PCR tests. Why? 

Why is no one getting the memo on that? Why are all these people still queuing for tests? Possibly because RATs, which we’re supposed to be doing, are so hard to find.