Changes mimic the days of old
On Monday I held a public meeting with Scott Simpson, National’s Spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety to discuss the Employment Relations Amendment Bill currently progressing through Parliament.
The purpose of the Bill is to ‘‘implement the Government’s post-election commitments’’ and make ‘‘a suite of changes to promote and strengthen collective bargaining and union rights in the workplace’’.
Well that didn’t go down well with the business people who attended the meeting.
The Labour Party is pushing through ill thought-out policy putting at risk one of the strongest performing labour markets in the world to satisfy its union mates.
Labour doesn’t understand business.
And these mooted changes to our Industrial Relations by Labour mimic the days of old in the 1970s where there were strikes and disruptions regularly.
We don’t need a wash, rinse and repeat. Business has changed. More than 40 years of growth, innovation and experience have helped shape the economy we had prior to this coalition government.
Many Southland Times readers will have seen the latest ANZ Business Confidence Survey (dismissed by Labour Minister Mr Parker as ‘‘junk’’) which has seen confidence levels of business people throughout New Zealand take a dramatic slide in the last year.
And our global position within the OECD Business Confidence Index has plummeted from second top to second bottom.
Business is pumping the brakes and the Employment Relations Amendment Bill (and other Bills signalled to be coming) will significantly increase costs and force businesses to make decisions that will put New Zealand jobs at risk. This means fewer opportunities for all.
This Government’s assault on the business community including these workplace reforms, the snap oil and gas ban, numerous working groups (due to the new Government not doing the work in Opposition and being ill-prepared), and increased taxes and costs across the board, will have major impacts on job creation.
Subsequently this will affect the ability of families to make a living.
Mr Kirk Hope, CEO of BusinessNZ, spoke volumes when he wrote recently: ‘‘All the changes have one thing in common: They have a direct effect on the ability of New Zealand businesses and their employees to prosper and grow’’.
Mr Hope also said, ‘‘Business confidence is critical to the wellbeing of our economy, our environment, our jobs, our communities, our families and our futures.
‘‘The current environment of uncertainty serves merely to drive continued nervousness. Confidence matters. Once lost, it can be hard to regain’’.
I wish the Government would stop and listen to business owners who employ many tens of thousands of New Zealanders and what it takes to do so.
I hear you, the National Party hears you and we will do all we can to stop this Government from dragging New Zealand down by stalling the economy, slowing job creation, raising taxes and making it harder for ordinary Kiwis to get ahead.
Sarah Dowie is the MP for Invercargill. 1. What James Bond film of the modern era took its name from the fictional Bond family estate in the Scottish Highlands?
2. In a 1959 hit song, who called the English teacher Daddy-O?
3. Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston appear in what long-running TV show?
4. What word can precede major, kit or brake?
5. Keith Murdoch, who was controversially banished from an All Black tour of Britain in 1972, played in what position?
6. In a nursery rhyme, what were the occupations of the three men in a tub?
7. What first name is shared by a writer named Didion, a musician named Jett and an actress named Collins?
8. What is the medical term for acute sensitivity to light?
9. What was the brand name of ‘‘the drink you have when you’re not having a drink’’?
10. Oreti Beach is in what province?