Fair Pay Agreements a bizarre move back to old 1970s system

Labour’s so-called Fair Pay Agreements are just what used to be called National Awards back in the 1970s. In my view they are yet another example of a government pushing through their ideological policies regardless of the impact on the economy.

This centralised wage process will see 90 per cent of a workforce at the mercy of the other 10 per cent and entire industries bound by agreements whether they participate in the award setting process or not.

Going back to a system that was so discredited last century seems totally bizarre in today’s world.

We will be looking to repeal these recycled National Awards at the first possible chance.

National’s leader Judith Collins is pressuring the Government to answer some hard questions about whether they will enact the proposals in the secret He Puapua report.

While some of the intentions of the report may be well-meaning, in practice they will take the country down a path where the delivery of public services is decided by a person’s ethnicity rather than need.

This shift toward separate Ma¯ ori authority over government departments has already been signalled with the proposed Ma¯ ori Health Authority and the legislating of Ma¯ ori wards on district councils.

Our position on these reforms is clear; we do not support the division of core government services along racial lines.

Finally, it was great to attend the official opening of five new rooms at the Athenree Homestead.

For years this iconic early settler homestead was in a dilapidated state which looked only fit for demolition, but thanks to the hard work and effort of many volunteers, it’s been faithfully restored.

Congratulations to the team at the Athenree Homestead.

I heartily recommend people pay them a visit when they’re in the area.