Connell Brian: Holidays Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Connell Brian: Holidays Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:614;Page:10512] 
BRIAN CONNELL (National—Rakaia) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to be able to take a call on the Holidays Bill. In passing I say that I was very pleased to see Miss Mackey come to the Chamber and clear up that misconception that she was reading a magazine at the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. Knowing her mother as well as I do I take her at her word though I suggest that reading  
New Idea 
 should be compulsory for members of the Labour Party. 
When I took a call on the second reading of this legislation I described the bill as garbage. In fact I think I said it was the garbage of garbage. I wish now as I speak to the title that I had taken a little more time to tell Parliament what I thought about the legislation. I think the title is something of a misnomer because a better title would be the “Compliance Costs Bill”. Essentially adding compliance costs is what this bill is doing to hard-working New Zealanders. We have to get past the point where the Government views employers as having deep pockets in which they can trawl for extra bits in costs because that view is driving business people to the wall. 
The other title that comes to mind with this legislation is the “Nanny State Bill” and I think Muriel Newman alluded to that. Whatever happened to the notion of flexibility? Whatever happened to the notion of employer and employee just sitting down and discussing what was best for them? Why do we feel we suddenly have to legislate and tell people that we know best that it is our way or no way? Essentially what we are saying is that we understand the business of employer-employee relations better than they do. I say that simply has to stop. That is why I think a better title for this bill is the “Nanny State Bill”. 
The other thing that I think is important to reflect on is that this bill is an amalgam of a couple of bills. In some sense I think this bill could be titled the “Holiday Giveaway Bill” because essentially it is a sell-out to the Progressive party. It is the worst type of election bribe. It is cheap politics. This Government will do anything for a vote despite it knowing that it is not good for the long-term prosperity of this country. It is wrong and Labour knew that it was wrong. Treasury reports which Cabinet had knew that it was wrong which is why I have suggested the title “Holiday Giveaway Bill”. Essentially the Government is giving away things that it knows are wrong. The bill is a sop to the Progressive party essentially so that the Government can get its support and can maintain the charade of this minority Government. Steve Maharey knew it was wrong. He said: “We won’t introduce 4 weeks’ holiday in this term.” and Michael Cullen backed him up. That is why I say it is the “Holiday Giveaway Bill”. It is wrong and members of this Government should feel very apologetic. 
I said earlier that this bill would drive up compliance costs which is why I would call it the “Compliance Costs Bill”. I believe that that is what it is. We ask ourselves this question: “Who asked for this legislation?”. 
Lindsay Tisch 
: Good question. Who did? 
BRIAN CONNELL 
: Employees did not ask for it. Employers did not ask for it. This Government with its nanny “we know best” state of mind just proclaimed that this is what they will have. The costs that it will drive into business in this country are prohibitive. 
Jill Pettis 
: Don’t be ridiculous. 
BRIAN CONNELL 
: They are yelling out over there saying that is not true. Well it simply is true. The title “Compliance Costs Bill” as I think the bill should be named is really a truer reflection of what this Government is doing to business in this country. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We are going to see more and more of this nonsense. I for one am prepared to stand up and say that it is just wrong absolutely wrong. The cost of this measure is horrific absolutely horrific—$800 million.