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

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, 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

Latest numbers from the Electoral Commission as of the weekend show 63.4% of 18-24-year-old voters are enrolled. 

It's a shockingly low number. 

It's lower than previous elections. This is bad news for democracy and especially bad news for the Greens. 

There's no excuse for this. 

You can't blame the Electoral Commission. You can't blame the media either. They have fallen over themselves processing the Commission's press releases. It's one of the rare times modern journalism, which is little more than regurgitation of press releases, might have been actually trying to do the right thing. 

It's not the change of date's fault. The Green's tried that "scam" on earlier. 

There was, and is not, a scandal. Elections are regular events and you have three years notice. Election dates are announced at the start of the year, and you then have about 10 months. 

If you can't enter a couple of simple details in that time that’s on you. We need to have individuals own more of their incompetence in this country. We look for excuses and on this, there is no excuse. 

As for the rest of us it's 90%, which is about normal. We like democracy, as we should. 

We also might like to actually vote. Last time it was 77%. That’s a big difference and, ironically, last time the percentage of young people who voted was also about 77%, which means a higher portion of those enrolled at that age turn up. So that’s a glass-half-full stat for you. 

The tragedy here is young people don’t care, or too many don’t care. 

Would civics help? Would more engaged parents help? 

Would better discourse at a political level help? 

Ironically it's not until you reach your 50's that the enrolment levels crack 80%. So as bad as 63% is for a 19-year-old, there are a lot of 29, 36 and 45-year-olds that aren't that much more engaged. 

For a country that appears deeply affected by the economy and life generally, a country that tells surveyors how unhappy we are and how we can't afford anything, when the chance comes around to participate directly in doing something about that too many just can't be bothered. 

Unreal aye? 

Latest numbers from the Electoral Commission as of the weekend show 63.4% of 18-24-year-old voters are enrolled.&nbsp;
It's a shockingly low number.&nbsp;
It's lower than previous elections. This is bad news for democracy and especially bad news for the Greens.&nbsp;
There's no excuse for this.&nbsp;
You can't blame the Electoral Commission. You can't blame the media either. They have fallen over themselves processing the Commission's press releases. It's one of the rare times modern journalism, which is little more than regurgitation of press releases, might have been actually trying to do the right thing.&nbsp;
It's not the change of date's fault. The Green's tried that "scam" on earlier.&nbsp;
There was, and is not, a scandal. Elections are regular events and you have three years notice. Election dates are announced at the start of the year, and you then have about 10 months.&nbsp;
If you can't enter a couple of simple details in that time that’s on you. We need to have individuals own more of their incompetence in this country. We look for excuses and on this, there is no excuse.&nbsp;
As for the rest of us it's 90%, which is about normal. We like democracy, as we should.&nbsp;
We also might like to actually vote. Last time it was 77%. That’s a big difference and, ironically, last time the percentage of young people who voted was also about 77%, which means a higher portion of those enrolled at that age turn up. So that’s a glass-half-full stat for you.&nbsp;
The tragedy here is young people don’t care, or too many don’t care.&nbsp;
Would civics help? Would more engaged parents help?&nbsp;
Would better discourse at a political level help?&nbsp;
Ironically it's not until you reach your 50's that the enrolment levels crack 80%. So as bad as 63% is for a 19-year-old, there are a lot of 29, 36 and 45-year-olds that aren't that much more engaged.&nbsp;
For a country that appears deeply affected by the economy and life generally, a country that tells surveyors how unhappy we are and how we can't afford anything, when the chance comes around to participate directly in doing something about that too many just can't be bothered.&nbsp;
Unreal aye?&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Why don't young people care about their future?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ed31e70c-9a59-4c3e-a255-b4e1015ab232/transcript

New England test cricket coach Stephen Fleming has already laid down a challenge to their Australian rivals ahead of next year's home Ashes series. 

The former New Zealand captain told Mike Hosking that he hasn't been given any KPIs per se, but the Ashes aren't too far away, and he learned pretty quickly that that's the be-all, end-all.  

He says the timing is really good as he can see a bit of creaking and groaning in the Australian team, so if New Zealand has a great summer and puts them under pressure, it might set things up well.  

Fleming's first series in charge is away against South Africa in December and January. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

New England test cricket coach Stephen Fleming has already laid down a challenge to their Australian rivals ahead of next year's home Ashes series.&nbsp;
The former New Zealand captain told Mike Hosking that he hasn't been given any KPIs per se, but the Ashes aren't too far away, and he learned pretty quickly that that's the be-all, end-all. &nbsp;
He says the timing is really good as he can see a bit of creaking and groaning in the Australian team, so if New Zealand has a great summer and puts them under pressure, it might set things up well. &nbsp;
Fleming's first series in charge is away against South Africa in December and January.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Stephen Fleming: England Test Cricket Coach on his shift to England, Ashes, Black Clash

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a342c898-6f34-4710-b899-b4e1015844d7/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 13th of October, NZ Initiative's Bryce Wilkinson joined us to crunch all the data from all the parties' fiscal plans. 

Nicola Willis pours over the National Party's numbers. 

Black Caps legend Stephen Fleming joins the show to talk about his new job with England, his brief visit to NZ, and look ahead to the Black Clash in January. 

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

LISTEN ABOVE 

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 13th of October, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bryce-wilkinson-new-zealand-initiative-senior-fellow-breaks-down-national-and-labours-fiscal-plans/">NZ Initiative's Bryce Wilkinson</a> joined us to crunch all the data from all the parties' fiscal plans.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-nationals-finance-and-economic-growth-spokesperson-unpacks-the-partys-fiscal-plan/">Nicola Willis</a> pours over the National Party's numbers.&nbsp;
Black Caps legend Stephen Fleming joins the show to talk about his new job with England, his brief visit to NZ, and look ahead to the Black Clash in January.&nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 13 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4ff277b1-2944-471a-af4a-b4e1014cf35e/transcript

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

In 1 playlist(s)

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips