Max Bradford

National Industrial Relations Spokesperson

Monday 31 July 2000

Govt. mucks business around again with ERB shambles

"The shambles over the tabling of the select committee report on the Employment Relations Bill sends another message to businesses that they aren't important to this Government," National's Industrial Relations spokesperson Max Bradford said today.

"MPs on the select committee were under the clear understanding that the report would be tabled today. The Leader of the House confirmed that at the Business Committee last week.

"And now we're told it won't be tabled until tomorrow at midday., even though the printed Bill will be available at midday today.

"Employers and employees are facing huge uncertainty with the Employment Relations Bill. They have been promised changes from the Government, and they have a right to know what the changes are.

"But the Government seems to want to keep them in the dark for as long as possible. There is no real reason why the select committee report can't be tabled today.

"The Government's handling of the Employment Relations Bill is verging on the ridiculous. The Prime Minister and other Ministers have been talking publicly about possible changes for weeks - but they want to delay the release of the official report detailing the changes so they can put as much of their spin on them as possible.

"The latest attempt at spin has gone too far. The Labour Minister's speech to the New Zealand Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union on Friday breaches Parliamentary privilege.

"The Minister has detailed a raft of changes containing far more detail of what is in the select committee report so far. This morning I have laid a breach of privilege complaint has been laid over the Minister's comments."

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