SpeechCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. The Christmas holidays seem a long way off now with so much happening all around the country and our thoughts and support go out to those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. But as one Napier business owner said to me If it's not the Government trying to ruin your businesses it's Mother Nature." I read about MPs' holidays overseas the books they were reading the family gatherings they were having and it looked fantastic. But not everyone enjoyed that luxury. I spent a lot of time talking to business owners who don't know what it's like to have a holiday. They haven't had one for years working every day often paying themselves a minimum wage—or less—but making sure their staff are paid and looked after. Many of the business owners I spoke to had nothing left in the tank. But they haven't got the luxury of running away they have debt and responsibilities.This Government has made it too difficult to run a business. I spoke to a hospitality business owner who had a kitchenhand walk out on New Year's Eve walked out because another kitchenhand called in sick and he didn't want to work too hard that night. So he just walked out didn't answer emails or texts for more than three days. Of course there are absolutely no consequences for abandoning his employment because it's just not worth going through the personal grievance process. The business would lose.I spoke to another business owner who had a senior staff member resign just before Christmas giving two weeks' notice. It was pointed out that in his contract it actually says four weeks' notice must be given and he just got a smug "Oh well I'll be sick for the other two weeks and there's nothing you can do about it." Then there was the cafe owner who made the decision to—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Baillie this is relating to the Prime Minister's statement how?CHRIS BAILLIE: Talking about business Mr Speaker.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well let's do that then shall we?CHRIS BAILLIE: OK. Another business owner example who had seen criticism from experts who had never owned or run a business. She opened with encouragement anyway knowing that on one of the stat holidays it was going to cost her a lot more and she ended up making $1400 dollars. Wages—time-and-a-half day in lieu etc.—cost her $2400.I also spoke to many business owners who were being harassed.DEPUTY SPEAKER: While you were speaking were you listening to the Prime Minister's statement? Could you just relate this to the Prime Minister's statement please Mr Baillie?CHRIS BAILLIE: Sure. I'm talking about the business owners the IRD the small business loans that Mr Robertson talks about all the time. And—Hon Scott Simpson: It's all related to the economy isn't it?CHRIS BAILLIE: Oh absolutely; well that's what I'm assuming everything is related to the economy and how the—what it is is the small business loan is a loan and it has to be paid back. But I was really pleased that over the holidays I got a lot of examples of good workers and as Mr Hipkins was talking about there's so much support of the young people and the encouragement they need to do work. I met a man a young fella called Axle—we'll call him Axle anyway—he's 18 years old and he's heading to university which we're all really pleased about. Started in hospitality in November wanting to save some money he worked as many hours as he could; actually he had to be restricted in the number of hours because the firm cared about his welfare. Great worker and he got a pay rise after two weeks. He got a pay rise not because Minister Wood said he deserved one but because he did deserve one. He was productive and he helped the business make a profit. The Greens need oxygen when they hear the profit root word but that is actually how business works. There was another young 15-year-old girl who was exactly the same got on with staff used her initiative and was an asset to the business. She earned much more than the minimum wage that Mr Hipkins talks about all the time. The common denominator was that they both had parents who instilled in them a work ethic. There's no such thing as a free lunch and the harder you work the luckier you get. The sad thing is that if this Government's union-driven agenda is allowed to continue there will be fewer and fewer Axles and Lucys and more and more entitled victims who think the world owes them a living. ACT will reinstate the 90-day trial for all businesses giving employees a chance and employers the confidence to take a gamble. We will pause all the minimum wage for three years so that the Axles and the Lucys can get a pay rise if they deserve it and we'll scrap so-called "fair pay agreements" because they're not. ACT will ensure business owners get enough support so they can also have holidays."