Blumsky Mark: Employment Relations Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Blumsky Mark: Employment Relations Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:633;Page:5128] 
MARK BLUMSKY (National) 
: 
 It is a big concern when I hear my fellow colleagues talk about 15 amendments to the Employment Relations Act. A bigger concern and an even stronger message that this Labour - New Zealand First Government does not like small business is that we are still even today making amendments to this legislation on the hoof in order to crucify small business. 
Let me explain exactly where I am going with this point. I stood in this Chamber just short of a week ago and I raised some issues regarding the Supplementary Order Paper put forward by Minister Dyson. I raised some issues to do with the fact that there was no protection for small businesses if they were taking over the employment entitlements after successfully winning a contract. My friendly colleague on the other side of the Chamber Peter Brown who has just spoken shouted me down at great length during the debate saying that I was wrong and that the Supplementary Order Paper would fix that problem. After I had delivered that speech I had a discussion with my colleague Mr Brown who then made a representation to the Minister. A Supplementary Order Paper in Mr Brown’s name has been presented today because of the discussion I had with him. Mr Brown then had a discussion with the Minister who has agreed to support the Supplementary Order Paper. 
No further proof is needed of the messy disruptive nature of this legislation—which is on its 15th amendment—than what we are currently seeing. That has to be a signal the Labour - New Zealand First Government is sending to small businesses that it does not like them because a lot of the Government’s mates who actually fund it are in unions and it has to look after what they want. The Government is saying it is important that its mates the unions who fund it are well and truly looked after. 
As I indicated in my last speech to the Committee I get a lot of correspondence from small businesses. I will read from a letter from a Wellington business—it has been in business for 14 years and has had 60 employees—because it just typifies and underlines what I am trying to say: “The past 4 years have been a nightmare for our business and we believe the reason is partly due to the overall climate and tone that now exists in this country created by a Government intent on pushing employment policies that are not necessary and political correctness that is way over the top and crazy.” I will drop down to another line that I particularly like which I will share with members: “We believe the only way to get New Zealand back on track is to get rid of the current Government.” I suggest that is an incredibly inspirational piece of writing from that small business. 
At the end of the day we should not be distracted from the fact that this legislation is not good for business in New Zealand. It is messy—there are 15 amendments to the Act—and this is Supplementary Order Paper number whatever because of issues that were raised by myself in the very last debate on this bill. As I say that is not the way we should be doing business. This Parliament needs to make sure New Zealand is moving forward. This Government needs to look at how it can lower taxes give people incentives to get ahead and ferret out the waste and the very many low-value programmes in the public sector so that the public gets good value. The public is not getting good value from this legislation. The Government needs to stand up and apologise to businesses in New Zealand because it is not giving them the respect they deserve. If we were the Government we would ensure that the right climate was there and that businesses got the credit they deserved. Thank you Madam Chairperson.