SpeechANGELA ROBERTS (Labour): It is a great privilege to stand here today and bring the worker's voice to this Chamber. I'm very very proud to be able to speak for a few moments on the Fair Pay Agreements Bill. It's really interesting hearing previous speakers talk about blind ideology and when we ask the OECD what they think about combined sector- and enterprise-level collective bargaining they kind of like it because they know it helps with productivity. They know it is associated with higher employment better integration of vulnerable workers and less wage inequality. They also see it as linking to skills and training pathways with the aim of increasing productivity and sharing its benefits. This isn't about ideology; this is about evidence-informed best practice. This is about building a modern future-focused industrial environment that will support processes where an entire sector can come together and have a really good debate about resolving issues that face the sector. This supports employees and employers. We have seen that this is especially important. I come from Taranaki where we are constantly grappling with the challenges of a just transition and we have seen sectors come together in arrangements like the workforce development councils where they realise they've got to collaborate to resolve industry-wide issues and fair pay agreements are a really great way of enabling a bright future for our employees and our employers. It will help to improve productivity sustainability and inclusiveness. We see that the productivity is improved not just by improving wages and goodwill. We see reduced staff turnover. We see workers being seen as an investment not a cost. We constantly hear from the other side of the House about the cost to business of employing labour. When do we hear about the investment in our workers—making sure that they are safe that they can turn up to work and have a day's work with dignity and get a fair pay? These are fair pay agreements not outrageous pay agreements. This is about investing in our workforces.We know—we know—people say we shouldn't be talking and bringing the voices of workers to the House. Well I'm going to bring a couple of voices for you; some of our security workers. So when you talk to Jason he says each company is cutting each other to the lowest cost: We get the scraps." How is it the worker gets the scraps? Wa'el: "I get really anxious and very stressed sometimes before the shift even starts because I go without being provided with proper gear without proper training and without proper support." These workers are often working alone at night. They need support and training to make sure that when they are confronted by people who are anxious or angry or drunk that they've got the skills to be able to handle that—that they've got a radio so they can get some backup. It is absolutely not just acceptable but more than appropriate that workers are looked after to have a safe day at work. I'm really looking forward to this coming to the select committee and starting this process of collaboration. This is how we build a future-focused nimble responsive industrial environment that will help us to meet the significant seismic challenges that we are being faced with—with climate change with the changes in the global economy. When we go to select committee we will be hoping that employers and employees turn up in good faith and help us to ensure that this bill—that we're trying to build something that is a sophisticated and nuanced industrial environment that works for everybody that everyone—employers and employees—deserve nothing less: fair pay fair conditions that work for everybody. It isn't "workers win and employers lose". You look after your worker you invest in your worker; everybody wins. You want productivity ideas? Talk to the workers about that. I recommend this bill to the House."