Lockwood Smith National Industrial Relations Spokesperson

25 September 2001

Govt. stumbling creates union botch-up

The shambles surrounding the invalidation of 40 unions is yet another example of the Government stumbling over its own legislation, says National's Industrial Relations spokesperson, Lockwood Smith.

"This is a major botch-up. Instead of making sure its employment law was implemented correctly, it's now been left with the mess of considering urgent legislation to reverse yesterday's Court of Appeal ruling.

"This is not the first time they've stumbled over their own rules. Last week, we had a similar situation surrounding the Government's changes to the Commerce Act where it botched the transition arrangements, and consequently had to introduce legislation under urgency.

"Last year the Government hailed its employment law as flagship legislation, yet it is proving incapable of managing it.

"Instead, it is willing to kowtow to the unions affected by yesterday's ruling by considering rushing through retrospective legislation just because the unions demand it.

"What it should instead be doing is looking at the full ramifications of reaffirming all agreements entered into so far, before automatically validating the unions. Retrospective legislation should only be a last resort in sorting out this mess," Dr Smith said.

Ends

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