Chadwick Steve: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Chadwick Steve: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:638;Page:8146] 
STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) 
: 
 I want to take a short call here. I think the debate in the Committee tonight is really rather sad. The Opposition has already said that it supported the policy of this Government when it came in in 1999 of a focus on people with disabilities and having a Minister responsible for the portfolio. Opposition members said “Well done!”. In 2004 when this measure was first proposed which is now 3 years ago the Opposition began its fearmongering throughout the sector about change. Of course this is big change. It is big change because it is a commitment from this Government that everybody in society enjoys the fruits of his or her labour. Dr Hutchison says I got the amendment wrong but I believe that is all just a sideline activity. This Government has from 2004 been prepared to go that little bit further in relation to transitional management to get this measure properly in place for people with a disability. 
I cannot understand the lenses through which Opposition members view the world. They want to keep protectionism and to wrap a safety envelope around people with a disability. I listen to the Disabled Persons Assembly and other sector groups that represent the voices of people with a disability and that is not what they are asking for. Those disabled persons who turn up to sheltered workshops and love the work—and I have seen it too—would also turn up early at a supermarket love the work do it well do it loyally work hard and enjoy being part of a workforce. 
This is about change. The Opposition cannot stand it that we are seeing through the strategy that we focused on in 1999. We went to the public on the Disability Strategy and the public mandated it. We are now putting the nuts and bolts around it which we began in 2004. Yet Opposition members are still flagging that they want implementation dates to be blown out to 2009. Well that is absolutely gutless. There is an election next year— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: No no. The member will withdraw. It was a personal reflection. 
STEVE CHADWICK 
: I withdraw and apologise. It is absolutely spineless because with an election next year we are sticking to our principles— 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I know what the member is going to say. 
STEVE CHADWICK 
: I will withdraw and apologise for “spineless” but people with a disability know what we are talking about. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: No the member will be seated please. The member cannot add anything at all to an apology. She must stand withdraw and apologise and continue her speech. 
STEVE CHADWICK 
: I withdraw and apologise. We are all aware that there is an election next year. This sector knows that this is a Government that puts its money where its mouth is and does not filibuster. We have said that transitional arrangements have to be there. 
I will finish by talking about exemptions. I see that the Department of Labour has also been impugned by Opposition members who have said that officials will revoke an exemption at whim. That just shows that Opposition members do not understand employment relations. How is it in the interests of officials from the Department of Labour to revoke an exemption at whim? That is rubbish. Exemptions for those in real need will remain. 
It is vexatious for the Opposition to say it will be up to officials who will get it wrong and be high-handed with people with a disability. That is rubbish. It is about training those officials in the interests of the sector they will be working with. The exemption process is relatively straightforward. I have seen it; it is just a flow chart that has to be worked through and it will be put in place for those with high need. It is wrong to say that it will be revoked at whim. It is absolutely vexatious. 
This is a wonderful bill. Part 3 repeals the right for sheltered workshops to have protection against any increases in the minimum wage. The minimum wage is a basic human right. As a decent and fair country it is something that we are signatory to. I believe that it is great that the people who work in this environment will also receive the benefit of increases to the minimum wage as they ought to do. They are valued employees. Members should go and ask those who have taken the step—because they know this bill is coming—of employing people with a disability what they think about their employee who clears the trolleys in the supermarket. The employee loves it the employer loves it and this Government does.