Goudie Sandra: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Goudie Sandra: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:637;Page:8080] 
SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) 
: 
 I am very pleased to be able to speak to this part because one of the things it covers is exempt organisations. In looking at that I am reminded of a comment that was made in the  
Southland Times 
 a glib explanation from the Minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson in regard to the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill—by gee that is a mouthful. The Minister’s explanation implied that assessors will go into sheltered workshops to evaluate the percentage of productivity of each individual then will inform those individuals whether they qualify to earn a percentage of the minimum wage. Where else in the workforce environment of New Zealand do we see people being assessed on whether they are actually capable of working? Someone will actually be assessing these people individually. 
In the first instance I am concerned to hear that labour inspectors are looking at changing the parameters of that assessment now before the legislation is even passed. They are saying the assessment parameter will be looked at down the track and there will be some changes made to it; I am concerned about that. Secondly I think it is a concern anyway that we have labour inspectors going in and making those judgments. They are standing there and talking to someone about his or her level of ability to work. 
Poor little Sammy is going into the sheltered workshop every day and he thinks he is really fantastic. He is rocking up saying “Hi guys.” and being looked after by those who run the sheltered workshop. He has friends there and he has work there—or what he calls work. It may not be all that much but it is a big thing to Sam. Then some people come along say they do not think he is very capable of doing any work at all and give Sam an assessment. The assessment says that Sam will be exempt from earning the minimum wage because those people do not think he deserves it. 
That is pretty much what will happen as a result of these assessments. Do members think that is fair? How do we convey to an individual that message about his or her ability in a way that person can understand and not have that person suddenly feel totally valueless as a result? Where is the respect for people who work in sheltered workshops as individuals in the process of this bill? I do not think it is there at all. 
The assessment for exemption totally devalues these people and their capabilities as individuals and it totally devalues their self-esteem and dignity. Ruth Dyson has not mentioned or acknowledged the most important daily therapeutic needs of people who go to what we call a sheltered workshop—needs of socialising learning and sharing. Those individuals go to these environments and they feel valued. They feel they have contacts and friends. They feel they are making a worthwhile contribution no matter how small that contribution is. 
We should be talking about how those people feel; we should not be talking about what we think and feel. Why should we the able-bodied be dictating to people who do not have the same degree of cognisance understanding or ability as ourselves but none the less do have cognisance and ability of their own? 
To say that these people were consulted is an absolute farce—they were not. These workers—we will call them workers—and their families were not consulted properly. The Government says there was consultation undertaken by People First but it was peer reviewed and found to be an absolute disgrace. So to even assume that these people have been consulted in any way shape or form—certainly in any meaningful way—is very very far from the truth. They certainly have not been consulted. These people are being denied the very basic human right to choose—that is to choose what they will do each and every day. 
There is the suggestion that repealing the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act will make everybody equal but that is not right. That will not happen. Repealing the Act will mean that suddenly a group of people in this country will now be assessed and told either that they are capable of earning the minimum wage or that they are not. Those who are going for exemptions because they cannot work all that much will be told they are no good and not up to snuff. How do we tell them that? I ask whether there is any nice way to say that we are giving them an exemption.