Introduced under urgency this month, the government’s latest proposed law change would increase the health minister’s powers to interfere in the work of medical registration authorities.

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill aims to “align health workforce regulation with patient needs […] and government priorities”.

This follows Health Minister Simeon Brown’s recent decision to replace the leadership of the Medical Council because he objected to the attention the council gives to cultural safety in medical practice.

Earlier, the minister also changed the composition of the Nursing Council, significantly reducing the number of nurses and Māori representatives on the board.

While the health minister is legally able to make all appointments to these registration authorities under current law, the convention for nurses and doctors has been that a proportion of the council is appointed from top candidates in an election by members.

Brown is the first to make significant changes to both councils on grounds of government policy, and the proposed changes would increase his ability to interfere with their work.

But despite the minister’s view that cultural safety and competence is an “ideological agenda”, these principles are deeply embedded in New Zealand practice and make a difference to health outcomes.

Cultural safety is a requirement

The concept of cultural safety is........

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