The Dominion

Wednesday, 15 March 2000, 11:01 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

Employment Relations Bill - About The House Column - Rats In Posh Auckland - Drivers Licenses - Snakes Alive - Tax Changes - Inside Political Headlines - Editorial: Employment Relations Bill

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BILL: The Dominion leads today with a report that unions hailed the new Employment Relations Bill yesterday as a "great deal for the worker", but opponents are warning of a return to union dominance and rampant strike action. The front page also carries a chart detailing key changes to the industrial relations framework and a picture of Labour Minister Margaret Wilson quoted saying, "this is not a return to the past".

Also on the front page:

- ABOUT THE HOUSE COLUMN: When is an MP not an MP? Apparently when he is inconsiderate enough to become entitled to enter Parliament at a time when the Government has a lot of legislation it wants to get through;

- RATS IN POSH AUCKLAND: a report that rates are thriving in some of Auckland's more exclusive suburbs;

- DRIVERS LICENSES: a report that the Government has reaped more than $42 million from the new driver licensing regime so far;

- SNAKES ALIVE: a report that a snake was found yesterday in a pile of rubble in a contractor's yard at Petone yesterday;

- TAX CHANGES: a report that under changes to the tax system, wage and salary earners will not get their usual end of year statement from employers showing how much tax they paid.

Inside Political Headlines:

- Bill aims to increase productivity, says Wilson;
- Hawkins awaits car chase report;
- Happy MP celebrates first 100 days with a cuppa;
- Tamihere defends his conduct while trust boss;
- Clark steps into contracts row.

EDITORIAL - ERA: The Employment Relations Bill should be renamed the Unions Resurrection Bill.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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