Collins' Comments: 17 August 2015

Hon Judith Collins, MP for Papakura

Papakura Community Crimewatch Patrol

I had great fun with a serious purpose when I went out with a volunteer team from the Papakura Community Crimewatch Patrol one evening last week. Keeping our streets safe and preventing crime is important work. It’s really encouraging to see members of our community giving back some of their free time towards making Papakura a safer place to live.

I have recently been appointed Patron of the Papakura Community Crimewatch Patrol, which is a huge honour. It’s great to be involved with such a passionate and dedicated group of volunteers who are doing such good work keeping our streets safe.

There are 80 volunteers in the Patrol, and they are always looking for more. Please contact 022 657 7593 or 022 657 7594 if you would like to volunteer to help keep Papakura safe.

Paying less for Power

We all need access to electricity and at this time of the year most of us are aware that we are using more for heating. This can be difficult for some households on a tight budget but the Government’s reforms are giving consumers more choice about their electricity supplier.

Consumers who switch suppliers are saving more on their power. Nationally savings are an average $162 per annum.

In Auckland there are 21 retailers operating in the electricity market now. As a result, more than 100,000 households are switching electricity suppliers to make cost savings.

Our Government’s careful management of the economy, delivering low inflation and low interest rates across the board, is benefitting families. According to the latest Consumer Price Index there was a zero per cent change in electricity prices. It is a great sign that National’s commitment to an open and competitive retail market is making a real difference for Kiwi households.

Click here to check whether you are getting the best deal on your power.

Health and Safety Reform Bill

Changes to the health and safety laws are essential when you consider, each year, around 45 people die on the job, and one in 10 workers are harmed. One half of all deaths occur in agriculture. Unlike other countries that we measure ourselves against, agriculture is a significant part of our economy.

The Working Safer reforms, including changes to the Health and Safety Reform Bill, are aimed at reducing our unacceptable workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020.

These are the first major reforms of our health and safety legislation in 20 years. They need to be fit for purpose in the current environment and also to the workplaces developing in the future.

The reforms recognise there are many different types of workplace environment and so they will set new terms that include separate provisions for farming, volunteers, and small businesses in the legislation.

In particular, the legislation will make it clear that farm land is only a workplace when work is actually being undertaken. This provides a common sense approach to managing risk and provides assurance to farmers.

For example, if recreational land users such as trampers and mountain bikers enter farm land when no work is being carried out on that part of the farm, the tracks and recreational areas are not considered workplaces and therefore won’t be treated under this bill any differently than they are now.

The coverage of volunteers will remain as it is under the current law. Volunteers make a significant contribution to our communities and keeping the law the same recognises that and provides volunteers with certainty.

Small businesses (fewer than 20 workers) in lower risk industries will be excluded from the specific requirement to have a health and safety representative or establish a health and safety committee on request. However worker participation in health and safety practices will continue.

Apply for Youth Parliament

Here is a chance for all young people aged 16 to 18 years to represent your local MP at the Youth Parliament on 19-20 July 2016. Youth Parliament is held in Parliament and is an opportunity for youth to have their views and opinions heard by all the current politicians in Parliament.

The Youth Parliament selection process takes place from 12 August which is also United Nations International Youth Day. Applications close at the end of September and details are available online or from your school principal.

I am sending details to local secondary schools and their principals and I encourage young people to give it a go.

ENDS

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