Tremain Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Tremain Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:631;Page:3260] 
9.  
CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
 to the  
Minister of Commerce 
: Will she act upon suggestions from the business community to the Quality Regulation Taskforce in light of the fact that the Small Business Advisory Group scored the Minister an average rating of only 5.3 out of 10 for the implementation of its recommendations to reduce regulation? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Commerce) 
: 
 Given the response of the business community I am confident the business community will engage with the Government and we will get results. I expect the Small Business Advisory Group will want to review its score in light of yesterday’s announcements. 
Chris Tremain 
: What confidence can the Minister take from the business community that the Quality Regulation Taskforce will achieve better results than similar reviews conducted by previous Ministers Paul Swain and John Tamihere? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Both of those reviews achieved great results and these will too. 
Chris Tremain 
: Is the Minister happy with her score of just two out of 10 from the Small Business Advisory Group on its recommendation that the Government measure and publish the cumulative impact of compliance costs on small business; is that the kind of dismal result we can expect from the Quality Regulation Taskforce? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I will send the member a copy of what the task force will be doing because that rating will go up tomorrow. 
Chris Tremain 
: Why does the proposed Quality Regulation Taskforce include only bureaucrats as its members and no businesspeople; does that not confirm the business community’s suspicion that it will be another Labour Government - controlled talkfest that goes nowhere? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Given the response of the four sectors that have been selected for the initial sectoral studies I say that is not the case. They will be sitting at the table with the Government to resolve the problems they face. 
Shane Jones 
: Has the Minister discussed the review with any members of the Small Business Advisory Group; if so what was their response? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I had a conference call with the members of the Small Business Advisory Group yesterday afternoon. I am pleased to report to the House that they are very pleased with all aspects of the announcement and especially that their recommendations that are accepted by the Government will be transferred to the Quality Regulation Taskforce for action. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Will the Government do anything at all to improve on its zero out of 10 rating of the Small Business Advisory Group’s recommendation of probationary periods for new employees which are the norm in all OECD countries? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: The Employment Relations Act already has provisions for probationary periods. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: How can the Government expect small business to take it seriously when it goes around saying there are probationary periods in the legislation given the Minister knows full well they have the full range of personal grievance procedures which is exactly what the Small Business Advisory Group is concerned about? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: The probationary period provisions in the Employment Relations Act require the provisions to be put in writing. That is the problem.