Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Well thank you very much Madam Speaker. I firstly want to acknowledge the member Helen White from Mt Albert for her bill on the Table this evening. Helen and I are class members of 2020—I have a high degree of respect for her a new member and it is a shame obviously with a member that's going to be in this House for many years no doubt with a seat like Mt Albert that we've got a bill such as the Employment Relations (Restraint of Trade) Amendment Bill in her name which obviously we will not be supporting.Isn't it interesting: did anyone hear the quote before that the reason we have Silicon Valley in the United States of America is because they don't have restraint of trade clauses in their contracts? Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous than a comment like that? A little history lesson: Silicon Valley started in 1955. The three reasons why we have Silicon Valley are not because they don't have restraint of trade agreements in their contract; it has a little bit to do with Government research and development in defence a little bit to do with venture capital—and I know that scares a number of members on the other side of the House. Venture capital—don't worry; it's OK—and another aspect as well which was that they had a number of universities. I didn't see in my in-depth research this evening that restraint of trade was the reason for Silicon Valley but that is one of the things that the member stated in her opening address this evening. But for those at home going Crikey if this is our pathway to economic success and growth in this country all we need to do to grow our economy is through restraint of trade clauses." I'm sorry we're going to let you down this evening. It isn't the pathway to prosperity. The only pathway Madam Speaker as you know is two ticks blue on 14 October. That's right—that is right.So let's talk about restraint of trade clauses right? Because they're not all bad. The other side of the House have been painting this picture of like they are the most evil cause that you could ever have in a contract. Well guess what! In order to have a legal contract an employee and an employer need to agree to have that clause in the contract. It's called personal responsibility. I know on that side of the House they hate that word. They hate the concept of personal responsibility. But at the end of the day the fact is if those two individuals agree shake hands and sign an employment contract they can have one of these clauses OK? So it's not illegal. If they agree it's OK. They are there to prevent an employee from setting up a similar business that may affect their employer. Is that genuinely unreasonable? You get a job. OK—we heard about Starbucks a lot this evening. Starbucks you know a good global corporate doing a lot of work and all that. But if they employ someone and they teach them how to make coffee—and that's an art I agree with that—isn't it reasonable that they don't just quit after they've learnt how to make coffee and set up a coffee shop right next door? I mean you know they've sort of invested in that individual in that so I don't think it's unreasonable. But tell you what: how many times has Starbucks actually taken employment action against a barista for making coffee and leaving early? Never. Never in this country I think. So this whole fallacy—"Oh we can't back it up with any data. There's no data. It sort of feels like this might be a good idea." and the Greens going "Well it feels like it's a good idea."—that doesn't cut it does it? We're not in the business of doing legislation in this House because it feels like a good idea are we? No we're not. But that is what we've got in this country—a Government that puts bills in front of this House because it feels like the right thing to do. Well I tell you what: I feel like I've had enough of this Government. I feel like for this Government it is time to go. I'm sick of this Government and I'm not the only one. I think the majority of Kiwis are sick of this Government as well.So if you haven't guessed where we stand on this bill I'll tell you what: we are opposing this bill. Helen no disrespect. Helen White: great member for Mt Albert but this bill is not going to cut it this evening. We will be opposing this bill. We wish it all the very best for its passage through to the future but I can tell you what: under a National-led Government this isn't going to last 10 seconds. It's all over. It's all done. No more on this bill. We're finished this evening. Thank you very much Madam Speaker."