House Rises Debating Health And Safety Bill

The House rose just before 10pm interrupting the committee stage of the Health and Safety Reform Bill.

MPs were debating Part Three of the Bill when the House rose. The complex bill including six parts plus schedules. A number of amendments have already been tabled from other parties and the Government has introduced more as well.

Workplace relations Minister Michael Woodhouse said Part Three of the bill was the “meat and drink” of the bill and was the part most opposed by some parties.

Mr Woodhouse said he believed the Government’s position had been misrepresented by the Opposition. The Government was seeking mandatory work and safety participation and this was different from the issue of mandatory representation which Labour was keen on. He believed the Government had got the balance right.

There had been a lot of “conspiracy” theories about the exemptions for farming, but he believed a different approach was needed not health and safety representatives.

Labour’s Sue Moroney said the minister was speaking “weasel words” and what happened was National had decided some workers were less worthy of health and safety representation than others.

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