Wednesday, 14 April 2021, 1:22 pm
Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee must return to
allow proper scrutiny of the Government’s Covid-19
Response, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins and
National’s Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop
say.
“The Government-controlled Health Select
Committee has proven itself ill-equipped and ill-suited to
the task of properly examining the Government’s Covid-19
response,” Ms Collins says.
“Whether by design or
by accident, this has limited scrutiny of the
Government.
“Today’s farcical hearing, chaired by
a Labour list MP, was appalling. Repeated attempts by the
Opposition to question officials on the numerous problems
impacting the vaccine roll-out, MIQ, and border testing
Case B, a 24-year-old, was meant to undergo mandatory fortnightly testing. But according to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) chief executive Carolyn Tremain, who spoke to the Health Select Committee, the security staffer was last tested for COVID-19 in November.
As it has been nearly five months, Case B has missed at least seven tests.
The Government claims Case B told First Security, his employer, he was being tested - even though he wasn t.
The Government doesn t know how many workers have missed mandatory tests. We don t know the exact number, said MBIE deputy chief executive Megan Main.
What we have identified through the case investigation process. is that there are some inconsistencies in the recording of when testing occurs, Tremain told the Health Select Committee. We don t have evidence that testing has been conducted from our systems on the frequency that we would prefer it to be.
Tremain said the employee is a relief worker , but confirmed he should have been tested fortnightly. She said MBIE is in the process of verifying the testing information, from both the employee and employer.
Tremain also revealed that only about 300 out of 589 employers across the border have been using the Government s central testing register.
We all deserve better : Bishop, Swarbrick unite in criticism of Labour s patsy questioning of officials msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.