Lubeck MarjaMARJA LUBECK (Labour): Tēnā koe and thank you Mr Chair for the opportunity to comment on some of the nonsense that has come to us from members on the other side of the Chamber. It started pretty much with Kieran McAnulty our member in the chair and the recipient of this bill talking to the Opposition about what this bill exactly means. However as they are doing now they're trying to drown out any sound of a reasoned debate with their nonsense repeat of slogans. Our member in the chair fairly clearly explained that there is a gap in the current employment legislation that will not allow people that are employed by labour hire companies to raise a personal grievance. Now a personal grievance is all that this bill is addressing—very correctly stated. So their keeping on repeating We get it all." but then not listening to what is being explained to the other side will just end up in this being an endless debate as we continue to explain what this is about. So at the moment the labour hire worker cannot raise a personal grievance. I say to Mr Dan Bidois our colleague from the other side from Italy that this has nothing to do with a lack of flexibility. This has nothing to do with a loss of productivity. This is about a person who is unable when he is either unjustifiably dismissed or when someone tells him just to not come back the next day—they can't raise that as an issue. It's a recognised human right that everybody else has in the world except for in this part of the legislation where that is written out of the law. Now we also heard from the member Scott Simpson about our submitters. Well actually without any exception every single one of the submitters has acknowledged that there is exploitation in the industry. So every single labour hire company that came before our Education and Workforce Committee said "There is a problem in the industry and we need to address it." This is a start and I'll tell the other side exactly—again—why. Mr Simpson mentioned the issue that has been flagged up recently with the environment here in Parliament and how we are dealing with some of these issues that have arisen and he mentioned in particular the triangular employment arrangements that are part of that. Now it is a really good example showing the problems that triangular employment relations bring with them because the person is unable—because they're scared of maybe losing their job—to raise any health and safety issues they may see. The most common complaint that is not raised under these employment arrangements is sexual harassment. Now imagine this: you are a labour hire worker you are being bullied—Simeon Brown: Mr Patterson did a good job. MARJA LUBECK: —you are being harassed you are suffering sexual harassment—and I believe that is not a laughing matter Mr Brown. You are suffering sexual harassment and you cannot bring that up because what happens? Your employer—CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Order! Order! Don't bring me into the debate. MARJA LUBECK: Sorry. The employer is not allowing that worker to bring it up because if the worker were to do that they would just be told not to come back the next day. That's the end and there is no personal grievance ability. So what happens? The person—Melissa Lee: The labour hire company is the employer. MARJA LUBECK: —is quiet and the sexual harassment and the bullying continues and Ms Lee I don't think that's acceptable. You might think that's acceptable but we on this side of the House believe that needs to be addressed. I think it's appalling that attitude. Melissa Lee: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I would hate to stop the member in her tracks in her speech but when she's actually telling mistruths when she's actually calling out my name and it's going to be recorded on the Hansard I think it is actually very wrong for a member to do that when I have not actually said anything that that member tries to claim that I have. CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): This has been a robust debate. I haven't heard anything from the member Marja Lubeck which I would consider to be out of order and so she will continue. MARJA LUBECK: Thank you Mr Chair. So we know from the recent annual health and safety reviews from WorkSafe that too many workers get hurt and injured on the job. Our very poor health and safety statistics are evidence of the fact that we need to make sure that workers in the country remain safe. This bill is only starting to address that massive gap in our legislation. We on this side of the House are convinced that workers need to be safe in their working environment and that's why we completely endorse this bill and commend it to the committee. Thank you Mr Chair."