9. Question No. 9—Workplace Relations and SafetyCAMILLA BELICH (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyQuestion No. 9—Workplace Relations and Safety9. CAMILLA BELICH (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? Hon BROOKE van VELDEN (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): Yes I do stand by my statements. I especially stand by the statements I recently made in my speech to the Auckland Business Chamber outlining my priorities in the workplace relations and safety portfolio. My priorities: to simplify and improve the Holidays Act increase certainty for those in contracting relationships reform health and safety and put in place measures for the performance of front-line services will help increase labour market flexibility and improve business confidence. And I believe that these moves will be positive steps for both businesses and workers. Camilla Belich: Why did she decide—SPEAKER: Wait on wait on—there are a lot of commentators in the House. We just need one questioner. Camilla Belich: Thank you Mr Speaker. Why did she decide not to continue the all-of-Government response to Gloriavale Christian Community in December last year? Hon BROOKE van VELDEN: My understanding is that Ministers across Government will work in their respective portfolios with Gloriavale. Within the workplace relations and safety portfolio the labour inspectorate is continuing work with Gloriavale and I understand that other Ministers where it's related to their portfolios will also uphold those roles. However it's not necessary to have more bureaucracy for us to have an overview of what is happening in Gloriavale. Camilla Belich: How will she ensure that the important work of the all-of-Government group continues—namely that members of the Gloriavale community can work without threat of penalty receive their minimum legal entitlements and not face avoidable serious harm and that those that wish to leave Gloriavale can leave freely with appropriate support? Hon BROOKE van VELDEN: I will respond in the area that I am responsible for. My understanding is that the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment within the labour inspectorate have worked in the past with Gloriavale to make sure Gloriavale are aware of the minimum entitlements and obligations under the Employment Relations Act and they continue to do so. Hon Willow-Jean Prime: How will the Minister ensure that the rights of children at Gloriavale will be upheld and protected given the disestablishment of the Gloriavale - West Coast Stakeholder Group? Hon BROOKE van VELDEN: Once again in the area that I am responsible for which is employment law under workplace relations and safety I will speak to the fact that I'm aware that the labour inspectorate has done work to ensure that Gloriavale are working to uphold minimum standards and I'm advised that they will continue to do so without the all-of-Government approach. Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. The all-of-Government group that we've just referred to previously reported to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety. The current Minister has disestablished it and is now refusing to answer broader questions about the work of that group on the basis that she is only responsible for the workplace—basically the labour component of that. The Minister was previously responsible for the totality of that work and was therefore the answerable Minister to the Parliament. The Minister disestablished the group and therefore is being asked what she has done to ensure in making the decision to disestablish the group that that work is continuing. Her refusing to answer them on the basis that she's not responsible for them can't stand. It was her decision to disestablish the group. SPEAKER: I'm not sure that the question was asked quite so specifically as to get past that point. Clearly the Minister doesn't have responsibility for something that's disestablished other than the disestablishment. So I'll ask the Hon Willow-Jean Prime to ask the question again with no loss to the Labour Party. Hon Willow-Jean Prime: Sure. The question was: how will the Minister ensure that the rights of children at Gloriavale will be upheld and protected given the disestablishment of the Gloriavale - West Coast Stakeholder Group? Hon BROOKE van VELDEN: Thank you very much for the question. Look my understanding is that it's very important for us to ensure that members of any group understand their rights and their obligations under the law and I would expect that across New Zealand. But within Gloriavale I am aware that the Minister for Education for example has members within the education portfolio working with Gloriavale to ensure that education standards are upheld. I am also aware that the Minister for community and social development has members of her officials who are working to ensure that members who leave the group also have support and within my purview which is workplace relations and safety the labour inspectorate is continuing to do work to make sure that the rights of workers are upheld under the minimum standards that we expect of all people across New Zealand. It is not necessary for there to be added bureaucracy to ensure that all of these relations can happen within their respective purviews. Hon Willow-Jean Prime: Will she advocate in Cabinet to ensure that the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment is adequately resourced to work with other Government agencies to protect children at Gloriavale and if so how will they be coordinated? Hon BROOKE van VELDEN: I believe I have addressed the question—that I don't believe that added bureaucracy is necessary to ensure the safety of children within Gloriavale. There are specific areas of law where every one of my Cabinet colleagues who has an area of specific interest for Gloriavale and the rights of children will be working to uphold that within their own agencies.