Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:665;Page:12665] 
8. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
 to the  
Minister of Labour 
: What evidence if any led to her proposing to restrict the right of wage and salary earners to meet with their union representatives at their workplace? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Labour) 
: 
 I have reports of union representatives stopping customers from actually coming on to the workplace disrupting customers in the workplace and tying up workers for hours of productive time. That inter alia led us to the conclusion that it was timely to have a discussion and clarify what is fair and reasonable to both employers and employees whilst at the same time ensuring our international obligations regarding union access are not breached. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Did she provide any additional evidence to the Prime Minister after he gave his undertaking to the Council of Trade Unions not to proceed on restricting union access without further consultation; if so what was that evidence? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: We have had several discussions regarding access; regarding our election manifesto. Further consideration persuaded me that it is timely now to have the discussion and clarify what is fair and reasonable to both employers and employees. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very careful very specific question about additional evidence given to the Prime Minister after a particular event and what it was. That answer did not address either of the legs of my question. I can repeat the question if you like. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: When the member asked his question he referred to whether the Minister had provided any further evidence to the Prime Minister following the Prime Minister making a certain statement. Now I am not sure whether the Minister in answering that would know when the Prime Minister made the statement the member was referring to. Therefore I think it is a bit unreasonable to expect an absolutely precise answer. Normally the member’s questions are commendably to the point but I think that given the information contained in the question it would be hard for me to pin the Minister down beyond that. She said she did have discussions where presumably she provided evidence to the Prime Minister. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: What reports has she seen about the approach of unions to workplace relations? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I have seen a statement from the President of the Council of Trade Unions noting: “You’ve got to remember that employers are not people.” Well actually they are and the reality is our Government has approved a package of sensible reforms to grow New Zealand’s economy and grow jobs for all New Zealanders. Good businesses need both employees and employers to work together and we need laws that encourage this cooperation. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Was she in the room with the Prime Minister when he gave his undertaking to the Council of Trade Unions not to proceed on restricting union access without further consultation; if so what evidence did she provide to the Prime Minister after that which led to his change of mind? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I believe I was not in the room when discussions were had between the Prime Minister and Helen Kelly and I suggest that the member asks the Prime Minister what discussions were had. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Is she sure of her previous answer that she was not in the room when the Prime Minister gave that undertaking? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I do not recall the Prime Minister giving such an undertaking or being in the room. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Why did she after her office indicated that she was free decide that she would not debate this issue with Helen Kelly on  
Q+A 
 on Sunday? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: Agreeing to or declining specific interview requests is done on a case by case basis. In my view that interview was not necessary.