Labour’s MPs on the Covid-19 committee

Labour has some very useful MPs they could have appointed to the Covid-19 committee.

They could have appointed Liz Craig. Liz Craig isn’t only a doctor, but a public health physician. You would have thought a no brainer for the select committee. In fact she is a former director of the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service of Otago Uni.

They could have appointed Greg O’Connor who was a police officer for almost 40 years and spent 12 years as head of the police association. Would be a great choice considering the huge role police have in this.

They could have appointed Paul Eagle who was Deputy Mayor of Wellington during a major earthquake.

They could have appointed Deborah Russell who is a tax expert, which would be very useful for the economic response.

They could have appointed Louisa Wall who has worked in the health sector (including Manager of Maori Health Research at the Health Research Council) and is the current Chair of the Health Select Committee.

Instead Labour put up three MPs, who are all current or former Whips. A big part of being a Whip is expertise in standing orders, enforcing party lines and closing down debates.

I know the three Labour MPs chosen (McAnulty, Dyson and Wood) and this is nothing against them. But why would you for example choose a bookie over an epidemiologist?

The only possible reason is you don’t want MPs with expert knowledge actually scrutinising Ministers and officials. You want MPs to run interference for the Government.

Otherwise your committee would be Liz Craig, Greg O’Connor and Louisa Wall.