12. Question No. 12—Workplace Relations and SafetyMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyQuestion No. 12—Workplace Relations and Safety12. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What initiatives has he announced this week to assist industries and workers to deal with COVID-19 recovery?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): Thank you Mr Speaker. On Monday I announced funding provided in Budget 2020 to ensure that our health and safety and employment systems are equipped to deal with the recovery from COVID-19. I was deeply impressed by the work and commitment shown by business union and Government officials to work together to develop guidance on how to address the unprecedented challenge of fighting the virus in workplaces. This Government believes that we get the best results from that type of tripartite engagement. I want this work to continue as we shift into the recovery phase and that's why I've announced funding for initiatives to assist industry workers and Government to continue this momentum.Marja Lubeck: Can the Minister explain the employment-related initiatives?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Well more and better targeted information is required for workers and workplaces to be confident in knowing and understanding their rights and obligations. We will be expanding services including the Employment New Zealand 0800 line which has seen a 49 percent increase in calls over April and March. A $3 million contestable fund will be set up to provide financial support for business organisations unions and community providers to create initiatives to support workers and workplaces through the COVID-19 response. We want to make sure that businesses that are doing the right thing by their workers continue to thrive.Marja Lubeck: What health and safety initiatives have been announced?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: The work health and safety system is playing a critical role in keeping workers and customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. WorkSafe and industry bodies are working together to provide guidance to help workplaces follow the rules and minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading. WorkSafe has also rolled out an education campaign on effective COVID-19 controls with a four- to six-week campaign. New funding will help WorkSafe provide technical specialist respiratory hazard advice.Dan Bidois: Will the Minister announce plans for Holidays Act reform to reduce businesses' compliance costs in their recovery from COVID-19 before the election given he has now had the task force report for nearly eight months?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Well I'm glad the member asks that question because I'm extraordinarily proud of the fact that this Government backed me to deal with the Holidays Act something the previous Government refused to do despite the fact that they got calls from businesses and workers for years and years and years to do something about it. Now the group did provide—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Can some of the member's colleagues just turn it down so we can see whether the question's actually addressed for once.Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: The group did provide us with a very good report and unfortunately over the last few months there have been other things that this Government has had to focus on in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. But once resources can be returned to that very important work of which this Government is very proud they will be.Dan Bidois: Will the Minister release its response to the task force report at the same time as the report itself?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Yes.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Do the initiatives announced this week include strategies to reduce the amount of workplace bullying given concerning revelations this week about bullying and harassment of senior public sector officials?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Well I can say this Government takes bullying and harassment in the workplace extremely seriously and we have been doing a lot of policy work in that area as well. The member can look forward to serious progress from this Government unlike the previous Government.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Minister as to why the report will not be issued or is he following the past practice of a certain political party that had a bullying allegation investigation and refused to disclose it?SPEAKER: Order! Order! I think there are a couple of reasons that that could be ruled out.