Ayesha Verrall travel mystery: Australia isn’t on her itinerary but she has written a speech for a health congress – in Adelaide?

Buzz from the Beehive

Just one policy initiative has been posted on the Beehive website since Point of Order last monitored the goings-on and comings and goings of our ministers.

Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced measures intended to support the hospitality and tourism sectors and a change to the requirements for recruiting chefs.

But we were fascinated more by the travel plans and intentions of Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall.

On Saturday, she advised us she would be departing at the weekend   for Europe and Singapore to attend global cancer and mental health meetings and building research, science and innovation connections with the European Union.

Today, she sent us a copy of her speech to the Population Health Congress in Australia.

Headed Public Health – Lessons from New Zealand’s COVID-19 response and opportunities for the future, it comprises some 3540 words, which would take around 30 minutes to deliver.

We were surprised.  Her press release on Saturday made no mention of a stop-off in Australia to address this congress.