Kate Hawkesby: My response to the Public Services Commissioner

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Aug 29, 2021 · 3m

The Public Service Commissioner, Peter Hughes, took umbrage at an editorial I wrote last week challenging the under performance of Ashley Bloomfield in his role as Director General of Health.

Hughes misinterpreted this as me criticising frontline public servants, who he said deserve respect.

That’s right, they do — from Ashley Bloomfield, whose supposed to be working on their behalf.

No one’s a bigger supporter of people on the frontline than me.

They do an incredible thankless and tireless job.

I was not referring to them.

I was talking about the man tasked with overseeing our Covid health…