7. Early Childhood Education—Impact of Employment Law ChangesNICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of EducationEarly Childhood Education—Impact of Employment Law Changes7. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of Education: Has he consulted with the ECE services about the impact of the Government's legislative changes on them; if so what concerns if any have they raised?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I meet regularly with the early childhood education sector and their representatives to discuss pressing issues with the sector as well as any concerns that they may wish to raise. I attended the Early Childhood Council's annual conference in May. I met with the early childhood advisory committee in December June and just over a week ago. I met with the Early Childhood Council on 27 August. These were all opportunities for the sector to raise any issues with me with regard to legislative changes or any other matter relating to Government policy.Nicola Willis: Is he aware that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill of 2018 gives union representatives the right to enter early childhood services without prior consent or warning and does he have any concerns about the impact this could have on the children in those services?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes I am familiar with the contents of the bill.Nicola Willis: Is it appropriate for union representatives without warning to walk into childcare centres unannounced without background checks?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Any union representative entering such a workplace will still have to comply with any other regulatory or legislative requirements on that workplace.Nicola Willis: Is he aware that proposed employment law changes could require a childcare worker to be reinstated after dismissal even if a centre has remaining concerns about their conduct with children?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: If the centre has concerns about their conduct with children there are a range of options for them including—if they're a registered teacher—pursuing that through the Teaching Council. I completely reject the premise of the member's question.Nicola Willis: Is he aware of a letter from a number of early childhood services stating their concern that proposed changes to employment legislation will dramatically impact on the viability and quality of those services" and will he investigate their concerns further?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I've already indicated in my answer to the primary question I've discussed a range of matters with the early childhood education sector regarding Government policy changes and Government legislative changes and I'll continue to do so.Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: Is the Minister concerned about the impact on the early childhood sector of members of Parliament grossly misleading the public on matters before this House?SPEAKER: No we're not going to—I mean I'll leave it there. We're not going to have an answer to that.Nicola Willis: I seek leave to table a letter received by my office and signed by a number of early childhood care services regarding the impacts of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2018 on early childhood services.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that being tabled? There appears to be none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House."