1. Employment Relations—Employment Law ChangesHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSEmployment Relations—Employment Law Changes1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes and I also stand by my statements such as our agenda will grow the economy will make sure businesses"—Hon Simon Bridges: This isn't comedy hour!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —"are in a position to grow and prosper because I need that economic growth to be able to lift the wellbeing of all New Zealanders."Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept that her Government's industrial relations reforms are a significant factor in the plummeting business confidence under her Government?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If that is in any way featuring in the minds of the businesses who answered that survey it shouldn't particularly given these reflect the changes in the legislation that existed in the 2000s—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —when New Zealand's economy was absolutely thriving.Hon Simon Bridges: So was Shane Jones wrong when he said on Q+A that it is a factor?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I just said if it is a factor it should not be of concern to business because that legislation around for instance meal breaks and rest breaks was in place in the 2000s when we had the strongest continuous economic growth since World War II.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I want to point out that when the Leader of the Opposition asks his questions he then starts shouting. He began by saying this is not comedy hour. I don't know what "hour" is—if it means that time of the day then perhaps he's got a point but the reality is he should not be allowed to do that every time he asks a question. He should sit there and get the answer properly.SPEAKER: Right well the Leader of the Opposition will stand up and withdraw and apologise now.Hon Simon Bridges: I stand withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: No the—Hon Simon Bridges: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: Thank you. And while the Deputy Prime Minister's comments were a reflection on me they were not entirely without merit. If the Leader of the Opposition does want to have an answer to his questions then I think he should at least when he sits down stop commenting at that point for some time. Is there a further supplementary?Hon Simon Bridges: Thank you Mr Speaker. Can the Prime Minister confirm that under the Government's proposed employment law changes a union representative will be able to enter the premises of a business without permission from that business?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I say again: what is being implemented is in line with the employment legislation we had prior to the last National Government and that was at a time when we had the lowest unemployment in the OECD the strongest continuous economic growth since World War II and when we delivered nine Budget surpluses. Hon Paula Bennett: Stand up and say them.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In terms of making sure that we are creating an environment where business can thrive we did that and we are doing it again.Hon Member: No you're not.SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. I am now going to warn Paula Bennett. We have one person answering the questions and her attempts to debate other frontbench members while the Prime Minister is answering are unacceptable.Hon Simon Bridges: So can she confirm that under the Government's proposed employment law changes a union representative will be able to enter the premises of a business without permission from that business?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In order to visit union members and at the same time ensuring that they are obliging and fulfilling all of the rules and obligations as set out on that workplace at the time. Should that affect growth amongst our businesses their ability to thrive and prosper to become exporters in our country? No.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she confirm that under the Government's proposed employment law changes a union representative will be able to enter the premises of a business without their permission even if as is typically the case say with a farm the premises of the business is also the home of the business owner?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That would only apply if that individual in question was a member of the union.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she confirm that under the Government's proposed legislative changes a union representative will be able to enter the premises of a business without their permission even if as is typically the case—say in a farm—the premises of the business is also the home of the business owner?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have said if they are visiting a union member then that rule will apply—and again as it has applied prior to the last National Government. Now I haven't personally heard of any examples of a union member cohabiting with a farmer and then having a visit on that farm in that farmhouse but if the member has an example that he has concerns about I would welcome hearing them.Hon Simon Bridges: So to be very clear under the Government's proposed employment changes can she confirm that a union representative will be able to enter the property of somebody's home without that person's permission?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have said only if the person in question they are visiting is a member of the union.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she confirm that under the Government's proposed employment law changes an individual will not be able to negotiate an individual employment agreement that is better than the union-negotiated contract prior to beginning employment?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As the member well knows the legislation that is currently being considered by this House includes restoring rest and meal breaks the duty to conclude multi-employer collective agreements 90-day trial periods for employers with 20-plus workers and union access—those are the number of things we are currently considering around employment law. They are all changes that existed before the last Government came in. Now if the member believes that for instance a union visiting a union member is going to cause major economic downturn then I would be concerned by that because I do not believe that will be the case or should be the case.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she confirm that the Government will abolish youth rates which would help young people into their first job?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member is referring to a Labour Party policy. As I've pointed out publicly many times before if you want to look for this Government's agenda look to the Speech from the Throne the coalition agreement and the confidence and supply agreement. Every other policy is negotiated by this Government as a collective.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she confirm that the two or three issues canvassed in this question are merely a handful of many many significant changes being made by the Government in the industrial area?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No. The one example the member just used was a Labour Party policy. As I've said this Government works by consensus. We negotiate everything collectively as a Government."