Boyack Rachel; Rurawhe AdrianRACHEL BOYACK (Labour—Nelson): Mālō ni Mr Speaker. Yesterday was a historic day for women in New Zealand. We had the swearing-in and maiden speech from my friend and colleague Soraya Peke-Mason and for the first time in our country's history women have equal representation in this House and long may that continue.Yesterday we also saw another milestone for women workers with Minister Kelvin Davis announcing that community social workers would receive equal pay. Prior to entering Parliament I sat on the board of Nelson Women's Refuge. We had many difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified social workers because they were paid so poorly. It was increased funding from a Labour Government that led to a massive increase in the pay rates of Nelson Women's Refuge workers and I was proud to be part of the board that delivered that. Those workers have still been behind the pay rates of many of our social workers within the public sector and that has led to incredible challenges to our NGOs and our community sector to recruit and retain qualified social workers and so to have this announcement yesterday was remarkable. I am incredibly proud of those workers many of whom are in the gallery today who will receive an extra $20000 to $30000 increases on their annual salary. Labour is delivering for workers.Today we also have another historic moment and I know I need to be careful about stating what may happen later this afternoon. Many of us today will remember our dear friend and colleague Helen Kelly who was the driving force behind fair pay agreements in New Zealand. Helen would always say It's by design." The reason we have low wages and poor conditions in this country is because of the design of our system. I was in my early teens when the Employment Contracts Act was passed and it took our country backwards in terms of wages for workers. We saw for decades wages fail to increase at the rate of productivity and workers' wages went backwards. I've said before in this House when speaking about fair pay agreements about the amazing difference that they will make for retail workers and I want to acknowledge some of the people who've been involved through the FIRST Union who are here today in working towards collective agreements in the retail sector but predominately at Pak'nSave and New World supermarkets where those workers tend to be paid around $2 an hour less for doing the same work as those at a Countdown. The bill that we will be discussing this afternoon the Fair Pay Agreements Bill will work to correct that wrong and we will finally get justice for supermarket workers in New Zealand who did so much to stand up for their communities during the pandemic. They will finally be recognised as the essential workers that they are. Yesterday on breakfast television Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson said that what people need the most is an increase in wages. Let us put on the record today that the National Party will be voting against legislation to lift the wages of working people in New Zealand. What they don't need is tax cuts—that will put us on an economic course like the United Kingdom where we have seen the economy tank one day after a Government announced tax cuts—for the wealthiest New Zealanders. What we see from the National Party today is a party who wants to give tax cuts and more income to the highest earners in New Zealand during a cost of living crisis while on this side of the House this Labour Government—and I am so proud to be a member of this Labour Government today.I want to acknowledge my friend Jenny Wells who I hope will be watching who has stood up for supermarket workers for years and years and years. What we are doing today is for you for your workers for the people who hold up this country. It is a proud day an historic day to—SPEAKER: The member's time has expired. [Applause from the gallery] Order! I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but this debate is for members; not for the public in the gallery. So it would be helpful if you didn't actually participate. [Interruption] Yeah I mean that."