The Act Party is accusing some doctors of wrongfully signing off people as 'unable to work'. 

Under its newly announced welfare policy, the party would require all health and disability benefits to be issued by government-employed doctors. 

It says the number of people who are deemed not 'work ready' has increased in the last three years,  despite the Government's best efforts. 

Act Leader David Seymour told Mike Hosking that abusive behaviour and packed waiting rooms can pressure GPs to deem a patient 'unfit for work'. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Act Party is accusing some doctors of wrongfully signing off people as 'unable to work'.&nbsp;
Under its newly announced welfare policy, the party would require all health and disability benefits to be issued by government-employed doctors.&nbsp;
It says the number of people who are deemed not 'work ready' has increased in the last three years, &nbsp;despite the Government's best efforts.&nbsp;
Act Leader David Seymour told Mike Hosking that abusive behaviour and packed waiting rooms can pressure GPs to deem a patient 'unfit for work'.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

David Seymour: ACT Party leader accuses doctors of wrongfully signing off people as 'unable to work'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/45419d8f-32e5-43fc-97ef-b47701437c4c/transcript

I was a bit deflated a couple of Fridays ago when the news of the passing of Bill Birch came through.

His life contribution and story barely got a mention.

But I felt better this last Friday when at least his funeral got much better coverage.

I haven't really been able to work out whether today's treatment of the passing of some of our more influential figures has changed because of a lack of resource in the media, or because those left in the media lack an institutional knowledge and therefore most people didn’t have a clue who Birch was?

That last bit is a particularly weak aspect of modern journalism. The "I wasn’t born when that happened” excuse has become some sort of acceptable reason for knowing nothing that didn’t pop up on your Facebook feed.

It remains as important as it ever has to recognise contribution.Sam Neill got his fair share the other day.

But Bill Birch left this country with a real legacy, the largest bit of which is the Clyde Dam.

Clyde Dam was part of 'think big', which ultimately was a futile exercise given we couldn’t. Not properly.

But the irony was not lost on me that in the days of saving Golden Bay Cement and using bits of Marsden Point we seem to have arrived at a new view on self reliance, which was what 'think big' was also about.

Birch might have been if not “the” most impactful MP never to be in the top job, certainly in the top handful.

Decades in Parliament, at very senior level, making decisions that can still be seen and felt to this day.

There is value in understanding how this country was run and who ran it. Just because you weren't around, doesn’t make it less so.

In fact Birch came to Parliament when I was about six or seven-years-old. But given his length of tenure I ended up dealing with him numerous times over the years.

Not being unkind - he wasn’t what you'd call a "hot talent" on air. But the influence and string pulling behind the scenes meant he needed to be talked to regularly.

He perhaps also represented an increasingly rare breed in the workaholic. Forget the politics; you could never fault his dedication to the task.

He was exactly the sort of person you wanted in the nation's Parliament. He was there for the right reasons and determined not to die wondering.

Thankfully he got at least someway towards what he deserved by way of our respect on Friday.

LISTEN ABOVE

I was a bit deflated a couple of Fridays ago when the news of the passing of Bill Birch came through.
His life contribution and story barely got a mention.
But I felt better this last Friday when at least his funeral got much better coverage.
I haven't really been able to work out whether today's treatment of the passing of some of our more influential figures has changed because of a lack of resource in the media, or because those left in the media lack an institutional knowledge and therefore most people didn’t have a clue who Birch was?
That last bit is a particularly weak aspect of modern journalism. The "I wasn’t born when that happened” excuse has become some sort of acceptable reason for knowing nothing that didn’t pop up on your Facebook feed.
It remains as important as it ever has to recognise contribution.Sam Neill got his fair share the other day.
But Bill Birch left this country with a real legacy, the largest bit of which is the Clyde Dam.
Clyde Dam was part of 'think big', which ultimately was a futile exercise given we couldn’t. Not properly.
But the irony was not lost on me that in the days of saving Golden Bay Cement and using bits of Marsden Point we seem to have arrived at a new view on self reliance, which was what 'think big' was also about.
Birch might have been if not “the” most impactful MP never to be in the top job, certainly in the top handful.
Decades in Parliament, at very senior level, making decisions that can still be seen and felt to this day.
There is value in understanding how this country was run and who ran it. Just because you weren't around, doesn’t make it less so.
In fact Birch came to Parliament when I was about six or seven-years-old. But given his length of tenure I ended up dealing with him numerous times over the years.
Not being unkind - he wasn’t what you'd call a "hot talent" on air. But the influence and string pulling behind the scenes meant he needed to be talked to regularly.
He perhaps also represented an increasingly rare breed in the workaholic. Forget the politics; you could never fault his dedication to the task.
He was exactly the sort of person you wanted in the nation's Parliament. He was there for the right reasons and determined not to die wondering.
Thankfully he got at least someway towards what he deserved by way of our respect on Friday.
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: We need to recognise the legacy of Bill Birch

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5ef9a2da-6cad-4ed0-bb23-b4930163ff09/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 27th of July, Nicola Willis speaks on the new policy to extend paid parental leave.

The Prime Minister speaks on monthly inflation reporting, the new tariff levied on us and the Golden Bay Cement decision.

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk Hamish Kerr pulling out of the Comm Games, the Warriors bad loss, F1 and the All Blacks naming.

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 27th of July, Nicola Willis speaks on the new policy to extend paid parental leave.
The Prime Minister speaks on monthly inflation reporting, the new tariff levied on us and the Golden Bay Cement decision.
Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk Hamish Kerr pulling out of the Comm Games, the Warriors bad loss, F1 and the All Blacks naming.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 27 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/879b9914-6631-43a9-84da-b493015d667f/transcript

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join Mike Hosking to review the weekend's sport. 

On the table today: Olympic champion Hamish Kerr has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games.

Basketball legend Lebron James has said he wants to play for the 76ers, while living in New York.

And Tottenham have beaten Auckland FC 2-0 at Eden Park. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join Mike Hosking to review the weekend's sport.&nbsp;
On the table today: Olympic champion Hamish Kerr has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games.
Basketball legend Lebron James has said he wants to play for the 76ers, while living in New York.
And Tottenham have beaten Auckland FC 2-0 at Eden Park.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Commentary Box: Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk Hamish Kerr, Lebron James and Tottenham v Auckland FC

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/295531bf-77e4-4090-bfed-b493015cb688/transcript

David Seymour: ACT Party leader accuses doctors of wrongfully signing off people as 'unable to work'

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