Passing the buck

TVNZ reports:

The Prime Minister has advised DHBs establish an “independent panel” to resolve their pay dispute with the nurses union after they today rejected a two per cent pay rise.

Jacinda Ardern said in a post-cabinet media conference this afternoon, she would “like” to see an independent panel work through the barriers to reaching a settlement between DHBs nationwide and the NZ Nurses Organistaion (NZNO).

This is passing the buck. The Government funds the DHBs. If it wanted nurses to get a bigger pay rise, it would tell the DHBs that the upcoming Budget will make provision for an x% pay rise.