Employers To Face Government’s 'Industrial Gestapo'

The new ‘Industrial Gestapo’ will enforce laws issued more arbitrarily than those that lost King Charles his head, said ACT Leader, Hon Richard Prebble.

Mr Prebble was addressing a North Wellington Rotary Club luncheon at the Wellington Bridge Club Rooms, 17 Tinakori Rd at 12.30pm.

“The Employment Relations Bill creates labour inspectors. Margaret Wilson says we have always had labour inspectors – never like this!

“The law firm of Chapman Tripp calls them industrial parking wardens. I say they are the new ‘Industrial Gestapo’. These labour inspectors can enter your workplace at any time without a search warrant. They can inspect your books and issue “demand notices” – in effect instant fines.

“I predict the Authority will be stacked with retired trade union officials and failed Labour and Alliance candidates. I predict that they will be the enforcers for the trade union movement.

“The ERB promotes a new concept – “good faith bargaining”. It sounds good, though the trouble is, no one knows what good faith bargaining is.

“Under the Bill, Margaret Wilson, as Minister, can issue a “decree” code of good faith. There is a advisory group of an employer; union and third party advising her, but she can ignore all advice and issue her own code.

“The code is legally binding. It’s the law. No Minister in peace time has ever had such power. It is abhorrent to our Westminster system. It’s contrary to the Magna Carta.

“King Charles lost his head for less.

“Labour is only able to make this assault on the sanctity of contract, the rule of law and property rights, because National was a poor guardian. The Employment Court has been allowed to issue bizarre decisions to reinstate employees caught stealing and half a million dollars to workers claiming to be stressed.

“ACC should have been reformed a decade ago. That Act, with its no fault provisions, have undermined the concept of personal responsibility.

“We need to elect men and women who do understand the need for Parliament to check on the executive, not its rubber stamps.

“I believe that is ACT’s role,” said Hon Richard Prebble.

ENDS

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