4. Building and Construction Industry—Impact of Employment Law ChangesHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionBuilding and Construction Industry—Impact of Employment Law Changes4. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister for Building and Construction: What actions if any will she take to ensure the cost of house construction is able to support affordable housing?Hon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Building and Construction): Namaste Mr Speaker. Tēnā koe. I thank the Hon Judith Collins for her question. This Government is taking action on a number of fronts to reduce the cost of construction and improve housing affordability. In my building and construction portfolio I have worked with Ministers across several portfolios—for instance to develop a construction skills action plan. This plan puts in place new initiatives in partnership with the industry itself to develop the capacity of the construction workforce to deliver housing that our New Zealand people need. That effort will contribute to addressing the overall cost of construction. Hon Judith Collins: Has she expressed any concerns to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety that proposed employment legislation changes will allow union reps to appear on building sites without first warning site management? Hon JENNY SALESA: We will be discussing the Employment Relations Amendment Bill when it comes through the Cabinet process and it is in all of our interests that we ensure the safety of our workers. That is what we are committed to doing. Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: Is the member aware that under current employment legislation and changes contained in the Employment Relations Amendment Bill a union official must identify themselves when entering a workplace—SPEAKER: Order! Order! This Minister doesn't have responsibility for that. The previous supplementary was worded in a way that involved the action. Mere awareness of another member's portfolio does not go to ministerial responsibility. Hon Judith Collins: Would she support a building site manager refusing access to a site if a union rep turns up and there is no health and safety officer present to offer a health and safety induction? Hon JENNY SALESA: It is in all of our interests to ensure that the safety and health of all of our workers especially on building and construction sites is actually taken care of. This is one of the reasons that we are looking at this legislation. It will come to Cabinet it will go through the Cabinet process and Cabinet in total—all of us—will agree and decide how to move forward in this area.Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I'm not sure that the Minister really addressed the question around whether or not she—SPEAKER: I'm absolutely convinced that she did.Hon Judith Collins: Oh you are? OK.SPEAKER: Yes. Everything that she was responsible for was addressed.Jamie Strange: Supplementary.SPEAKER: Kieran McAnulty.Hon Members: Jamie Strange.SPEAKER: Oh Jamie Strange—I apologise.Jamie Strange: A slightly better-looking version of the member but—SPEAKER: Yes. I thought the member had had a shave. Carry on.Jamie Strange: Yes indeed. What is this Government doing to reduce the costs of building products?Hon JENNY SALESA: Completing an analysis and review of building products in Aotearoa New Zealand is an area of priority for me. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has led a review of building products since June of this year. I will take options to Cabinet for consideration by the end of this year. This review of New Zealand's building products regulatory and assurance system will support innovation and ensure a vibrant and effective market for building products in our country. It will contribute effectively to building affordable homes for New Zealanders.Hon Judith Collins: Will building contractors be exempt from proposed provisions that require new contractors to take on employees from previous contractors?SPEAKER: Order! That is a direct question and another member's responsibility.Hon Judith Collins: Does she believe that confidence and investment in the construction industry will be increased if businesses are forced to take on employees they know nothing about?Hon JENNY SALESA: One of the things that our Government has done is we've come through and we've committed to building a lot of houses because we are addressing the issue that we do not have enough houses. In the building and construction area I'm reviewing products I'm looking at risk and liability reallocation—I'm doing a whole lot of work because we need to address this issue. Thank you Mr Speaker.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. How can that possibly be an answer?SPEAKER: Yes I'm going to ask the member to ask the question again.Hon Judith Collins: Thank you Mr Speaker. Does she believe that confidence and investment in the construction industry will be increased if businesses are forced to take on employees they know nothing about?Hon JENNY SALESA: I believe that the confidence of our businesses in the building and construction sector will be increased once we implement all of the work that we're doing in building and construction.