7. Building and Construction Industry—Government Support and Micro-credentialsPAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionBuilding and Construction Industry—Government Support and Micro-credentials7. PAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister for Building and Construction: What are the outcomes of yesterday's meeting between Ministers and representatives of the construction sector?Hon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Building and Construction): The outcome of the meeting was very positive. My colleagues the Hon Phil Twyford the Hon Shane Jones and I sat down and met with leaders from the construction sector to discuss the issues that are longstanding issues. While Government contracts only represent 18 percent of the vertical construction work the Government has made the decision to take leadership on this issue. I've asked the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for advice on options for ensuring a whole-of-life contracting approach to construction especially for Government projects. We agreed that Government and industry need to work together to address these issues. I took an oral item to Cabinet and a Cabinet paper will soon be taken for our colleagues to agree that Government agencies must demonstrate that MBIE's Government procurement document is actively taken as part of the decision-making process. Industry representatives acknowledge that there are improvements vertical construction can make in providing guidance on construction contracts and the risks that they take as well as collaborating and sharing good practice.Paul Eagle: What other steps is the Government taking to support the building and construction sector?Hon JENNY SALESA: Maintaining a healthy construction sector is very important to all of us in New Zealand. I've instigated an ambitious cross-Government programme of work to address the construction sector issues I inherited when I took this portfolio on. I've established a ministerial group on the construction workforce working across nine portfolios. That group has developed a construction skills action plan and we've consulted with industry. In the very near future I will be announcing the initiatives we will be pursuing to address the skills gap and to support a strong competitive and efficient sector.Paul Eagle: What new initiative has the Government announced that will contribute to addressing issues of concern in the construction sector?Hon JENNY SALESA: On 1 August my colleague the Hon Chris Hipkins the Minister of Education and I launched a new system called the micro-credentials system which is an important step towards addressing some of our skills shortages as well as assisting workers to maintain and to update their skills. Micro-credentials are a stand-alone education product. I'm delighted that the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation has taken micro-credentialing and piloted it and now they're expanding its implementation. Micro-credentials are an employment- and industry-driven initiative which means workers can upskill in specialist areas while they're working. This approach will also—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Order! This was really interesting the first and second times the House was told about this; I think we've had enough of it now. Thank you.