Choice recognises women’s health

Press, 27 January 1989, Page 1

Choice recognises women’s health

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Parliament

The appointment of Ms Helen Clark as Minister of Health reflects the growing political importance of women’s health issues.

She is New Zealand’s second woman Health Minister — the first was Miss Mabel Howard 40 years ago between 1947-49 — and she got the job not just because she has shown herself to be a capable Cabinet Minister in the housing and conservation portfolios but as a result of lobbying by women members of Parliament and women’s groups... “Obviously I have an interest in women’s health, but I wouldn’t want it to be thought that was why I was given the portfolio or why I welcomed getting it,” Ms Clark said. ■

Her first priority would be to get fully briefed on all health issues, because until now she had only been an informed lay person, she said. |

Ms Clark welcomed the chance to work personally in areas affecting psychiatric health and the health of the elderly. She also welcomed the combining of the health and housing portfolios because housing needs

were often not considered sufficiently when health decisions were being made and when people were being de-institu-tionalised by health and social welfare professionals. “Ideally I would want three years rather than 18 months between elections to get to grips with a big portfolio like health,” Ms Clark said.

“I realise I am not coming in with a clean slate but I am happy to pick up the agenda my predecessor has already set.” She was elected to Parliament in 1981 and after Labour’s win in 1984 became prominent in her role as chairwoman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee.

Since 1987, Ms . Clark has been Minister of Housing and Conservation, and has kept her housing portfolio while relinquishing conservation to a Minister outside the Cabinet — Mr Philip Woollaston. She said it was “a bit of a wrench” to lose conservation, but rejected criticism that Mr Woollaston would not be able to handle it effectively from outside the Cabinet.

Changes, page 3