We exist as a rapid response team, ready to come alongside individuals whose voices are being threatened for expressing an opinion. 

Jenny Hobson is a registered nurse from Hawke's Bay who's recently come under investigation for expressing her opinion online. 

She's yet another individual within the healthcare profession who's come up against censorship simply because of her opinions. And as always, we've stepped in. 

Let me tell you about Jenny. She is an experienced nurse who's worked in a variety of roles across her career. She even spent time with the Red Cross in Africa.  

Last month, she received a letter from her employer, Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora), inviting her to a meeting about a potential disciplinary matter.

Why? 

Because a member of the public saw comments Jenny made on social media that they disagreed with, and complained to Health NZ.

The comments Jenny made were on the Parents Against Gender Education New Zealand page.

The first one was over cultural training her workplace was conducting on 'Rainbow Awareness'. 

She said, "As a nurse, working for the Hawke's Bay district health board, it's so amazing that whilst we have a 'hire freeze' on for nurses and frontline staff due to budget constraints... ..the health board see the need to fund workshops like this for staff to attend. Really? How about hire some staff to make our workplaces safer for both the workers and our patients?! 😡"

In the other post, she encouraged protests against Rainbow Storytime at the local library. 

It's ridiculous that the Health NZ called the meeting in the first place. We wrote to Health NZ telling them as much, but they persisted.

I was pleased to support Jenny and attended the meeting with her. 

What was discussed at the meeting is confidential, but I can tell you they are investigating whether or not Jenny's posts amount to:

1. Conduct that has the potential to bring Health NZ into disrepute.
2. Public disparagement of Health NZ’s initiative to create a safe, inclusive environment for all patients.
3. Concern that personal beliefs may impact the safety of those receiving care, particularly anyone in the rainbow community.

Yet again, 'inclusivity' is used as a reason to, what? Exclude someone? 

New Zealand has a nursing crisis. Jenny has a heart of gold, as does anyone prepared to dedicate their career to caring for the sick and vulnerable. 

So, why are these professional bodies going after nurses and their opinions? 

Whether you agree with Jenny's comments or not, she has the right to express them.

I am appalled that these professional bodies think they can dictate the thoughts and speech of their employees. They're spineless, caving to complaints from the public, rather than sticking up for the rights of their staff.

The letter Jenny received advising her of the complaint and requesting the meeting included a note instructing Jenny to remove and refrain from making any posts that identified her as an employee of Health NZ. 

Nurses don't have fewer rights than anyone else. Yet organisations like Health NZ and the NZ Nursing Council think they can keep nurses under their thumbs.

How many nurses feel like they need to sit down and shut up? How many only feel like they can voice their opinions because they know we'll come alongside them?

I was able to accompany Jenny at the meeting with Health NZ, but that's only because there's a team of us ready to push back against the would-be-censors.

We're now preparing to respond further should Jenny's voice or job be threatened further.

We're only here, ready for whatever comes across our desks, because you're in the fight with us. We think Jenny's voice is worth defending, and we can't do it without you. 

Jenny's livelihood is under threat over a few comments she made online, and that's not good enough. Would you contribute once again to keeping the would-be-censors at bay? 

Hannah Clow Senior In-House Legal Counsel  Free Speech Union www.fsu.nz

PS. New Zealand is experiencing a nursing crisis, but Health NZ is happy using its time to police the speech of nurses. Stand with us now as we stand for the speech rights of all Kiwis.