12 March 2000

Defining week for ACC and jobs

This week will define whether New Zealand is on the path to prosperity or about to make a u-turn backwards, Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today.

“As much as anything else the Government does this term the ACC changes and replacing the Employment Contracts Act will determine the sort of country New Zealand is becoming.

“While Labour campaigned to change the Employment Relations Bill the real concern is just how far it and its partner the Alliance is going.

“No matter how the Government tries to dress up the Employment Relations Bill when it is released on Tuesday, National will be working hard to head off the worst changes.

“National has developed a campaign which, over the coming months, will make certain ordinary New Zealanders know what’s wrong with the planned changes to the Employment Contracts Act.

“National believes Labour has moved considerably further than it said prior to the election and that employers in particular are in for a shock. Social service agencies may also be affected by the changes, especially if they use contract workers.

“The policies will signpost New Zealand’s future. They will also tell workers and employers whether Labour has caved in to the Alliance and in doing so given huge new strength to the unions and their ability to control our economy.

“This week the employment law changes will be running at the same time as Parliament takes the next step to reverse the gains made under ACC.

“The Government’s ACC Bill will get a rough ride in the House as we work to fix the fundamental errors in the Bill.

“Our amendments will reflect the views of submitters to the select committee, and the huge concerns from businesses and charitable groups in the community.

“I ask New Zealanders to look beyond the feel-good factor of a new Government and seriously consider whether the policies will block our path to prosperity and jobs,” Mrs Shipley said.

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