John Key MP National Party Associate Commerce Spokesman

01 August 2003

Labour stitches up another secret deal

The Labour Government appears to have stitched up another secret deal with its Trade Union cohorts that will see employers forced to carry massive new costs.

"Not content with the imposition of 17 new 'sly' taxes and increasing the costs of red tape and bureaucracy, now Helen Clark's getting employers to pick up the tab again for her Government's ideological agenda," says National Party Associate Commerce spokesman John Key.

He's commenting on reports of a 'backroom deal' that will allow the Four Weeks' Annual Leave Amendment Bill to take effect after the next general election.

"Helen Clark's not brave enough to front up to business leaders and put that on the table ahead of the election, instead it's being strategically left until afterwards.

"It's an appalling abuse of the Government majority and a cynical manipulation of the process.

"Labour knows it is breaking the pre-election promise not to introduce the four weeks' leave bill in this parliamentary term.

"So instead the Government's going to stitch up the deal well ahead of the election - then run a tenuous argument about how it won't 'take effect' this parliamentary term.

"It's a crafty way to keep the unions happy and supporting Labour at the next election," Mr Key says.

"The National Party does not believe this is the 'open and transparent' Government which Helen Clark was once so proud to be part of.

"It's the latest in a long line of dictatorial decisions that are presented to the public only after they've been made.

"The business community deserves to be heard on this issue," Mr Key says.

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