Duncan Helen: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Duncan Helen: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:619;Page:14941] 
11.  
HELEN DUNCAN (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Labour 
: What reports has he received which compare employment conditions under the respective employment laws of Australia and New Zealand? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Labour) 
: 
 I have seen a report quoting the World Bank that states that New Zealand’s labour laws are more flexible than Australia’s with a rating of 32 out of 100 compared with Australia’s rating of 36 out of 100 where a lower score denotes more flexibility. I have also seen a report that Australia has had a statutory minimum of 4 weeks’ annual leave for the last 30 years. For some strange reason the National Party leader Don Brash forgot to mention those facts in a media release in Australia recently. 
Helen Duncan 
: What other reports has he seen on comparisons between Australia and New Zealand? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as they relate to the Minister’s portfolio. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I have seen a report of the National Party leader bad-mouthing New Zealand in Australian media and indicating that New Zealand could become an unviable Pacific State. Most New Zealanders will be outraged— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. The way that the Minister started off was out of order. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: What action will the Minister take in respect of the OECD 2002-03 report which states that “New Zealand is unusual in not having a minimum probation period for new employees.” and that this inevitably restricts the employability of the “young less-skilled and especially single parents who have one of the lowest employment rates in the OECD.”? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Well probation options are available under the Employment Relations Act as that member will know and that issue is under consideration. But I do think it is rather odd given that Australia has had 4 weeks’ annual leave for 30 years and given that that is the reason why some people are going to Australia that the National Party would decide to repeal that provision and go back to 3 weeks’ annual leave. It is very very odd. I think that when National Party people are overseas they should be a little bit more positive about this country. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister referring to the report that was published in Australia recently that bemoans the fact that New Zealanders are paid far less than Australians yet goes on to complain about New Zealanders now being paid for working on statutory holidays and now getting 4 weeks’ holiday a year; if he is can he give us an idea how those two positions can be reconciled? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: It is quite difficult because the reports I have seen from the leader of the National Party are quite contradictory and often make no sense at all. I think the important point about this is that that leader now decides that no one in New Zealand should have 4 weeks’ annual leave— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
 —although he had 4 weeks’ leave when he was the Governor of the Reserve Bank. There is— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have warned the Minister. He knew I was on my feet. He will now stand and withdraw and apologise for being rude to me. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: I seek leave to table page 15 of the OECD 2002-03 report which states that single parents in New Zealand have one of the lowest employment rates in the OECD. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I notice that you checked the Minister for speaking when you were on your feet but the other sin he committed was that he launched a personal attack upon the leader of the National Party in quite an irrelevant way pointing out that he himself had enjoyed 4 weeks’ annual holiday as Governor of the Reserve Bank. That was not part of the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That of course is not a point of order. I sometimes think that were I not to allow people to raise points of order we might have a very much better question time. I do not think most people know what a point of order is. There are about four or five members who have that ability. I know that the leader of New Zealand First knew precisely what he was doing.