The appointment of two individuals with connections to
the Free Speech Union (FSU) to the Medical Council by Health
Minister Simeon Brown raises serious concerns about the
Government’s judgement, its commitment to maintaining the
independence of New Zealand’s professional regulatory
bodies, and risks furthering systemic racism in
Aotearoa.
The Medical Council exists to protect the
public by ensuring doctors meet high professional and
ethical standards. It should be guided by evidence, patient
safety and professional expertise, not ideological
agendas.
The timing of these appointments comes amid
growing concern about a broader political campaign targeting
independent professional bodies, including the Human Rights
Commission, Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand,
InternetNZ, and with strong campaigning around the NZME
board. These recent appointments by Minister Brown make
three Free Speech Union associated appointments by Minister
Brown within the past year.
The Government is
advancing proposals affecting regulators across the health
and education sectors, while organisations aligned with the
direction of those reforms – the Free Speech Union chief
among them – have repeatedly opposed efforts to address
systemic racism, to advance protections from hate speech,
and to embed cultural safety, equity and Te Tiriti o
Waitangi obligations in professional standards.
The
Peoples Action Plan Against Racism in Aotearoa (PAPARA) are
very clear that ideologically driven ministerial
appointments can be a channel for systemic racism. These
recent appointments are following a very concerning pattern,
and PAPARA are calling for greater scrutiny of ministerial
appointments, moving forward.
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Equally concerning are
reports that media questions from journalist Andrea Vance
regarding the appointments were reportedly forwarded to the
Free Speech Union, which subsequently issued a public
statement attacking the journalist rather than addressing
the substance of the questions. If accurate, this represents
an extraordinary blurring of the lines between ministerial
accountability and political advocacy.
The
Minister should explain:
- Why individuals
connected to an advocacy organisation with a well-known
ideological position were appointed to an independent
statutory regulator. - Why questions directed to the
Minister appear to have been handled by an external lobbying
organisation. - What safeguards exist to ensure the
Medical Council remains independent of political
influence.
The Free Speech Union describes its
work as defending freedom of expression. However, it was
founded upon the protection of a speaking tour by white
supremacist figures Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern, and
has repeatedly advocated against regulatory protections from
hate speech, in spite of human rights authorities confirming
that free speech should not include the right to harm. Many
Māori organisations, health professionals and community
leaders have criticised the organisation’s campaigns,
arguing they have the practical effect of undermining Te
Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, weakening efforts to address
racism within institutions and society, and opposing
initiatives intended to improve Māori health and
wellbeing.
Professional standards relating to cultural
safety and Te Tiriti are not matters of political fashion.
They have developed in response to longstanding evidence of
inequitable health outcomes experienced by Māori and are
recognised as important components of delivering safe and
effective healthcare.
New Zealand deserves regulators
that are independent, appropriately skilled, trusted and
focused solely on protecting the public. Appointments that
create the appearance of ideological capture risk
undermining confidence in those institutions.
The
Government must reassure New Zealanders that the Medical
Council will continue to act independently, free from
political influence and committed to protecting all
patients.
Independent regulators exist to protect the
public, not to become vehicles for political ideology.
Public confidence depends on their independence being beyond
question.
