Max Bradford

National Industrial Relations Spokesperson

Monday 14 August 2000

Law must include Parliamentary Review of Employment Relations Act

A bid will be made to include in law a Parliamentary review of the Employment Relations Act to assess it against the objects of the legislation and change it if needed, National's Industrial Relations spokesperson Max Bradford said today.

"The Government continues to refuse to accept any accountability for the impact of the Employment Relations Bill despite major concerns about what it means for jobs, growth and strike action.

"National will seek to include a select committee review of the Act within two years to establish whether it is meeting its stated objectives.

"The Act's object is to "build productive employment relationships through the promotion of mutual trust and confidence" but the Government has not specified any way of measuring this.

"National's amendment will seek to establish a select committee review of the Act - similar to that in the Electoral Act which allows for a select committee review of MMP.

"The Review would begin after 1 February 2002 and finished by September 2002 and would look at the "effects of the Act as they relate to the objects and recommend changes".

"The select committee review is vital for two reasons. One the legislation has been so badly drafted there are bound to be mistakes that need fixing and two the Government has refused to lay down any criteria to judge the success or failure of the legislation.

"The select committee review would bring some accountability into the process."

Ends

Part 11b attached

Employment Relations Bill

Proposed Amendment

Max Bradford, in Committee, to move the following amendment:

New Part 11B
To insert after, clause 264 (after line 36 on page 188), the following
part:

Part 11B
Review of Employment Legislation

264A Object of this Part
The object of this Part is to establish a review of this Act
to identify what changes, if any, are needed to further fulfil the
objects
of this Act as stated in Clause (3)

264B Interpretation
"Select Committee" means the Select Committee of the House
of Representatives established under this Part to review the Act.

264C Review by Select Committee
(1) The House of Representatives shall, as soon as
practicable after the 1st day of February 2002, appoint a select
committee
to consider the following matters:
(a) The effects of the Act as they
relate to the objects of the Act;
(b) Any other issues which may help
fulfil the objects of the Act

(2) The select committee appointed under subsection (1)
of this section shall report to the House of Representatives before the
1st
day of September 2002 and shall include in its report a statement
indicating
(a) Whether, in its view, there
should be changes to the Act
Any other issues which it consider the House should consider
to help fulfil the objects of this Act

ENDS

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