Labour is lying about our changes to pay equity to avoid talking about their own flawed approach, says senior National MP Chris Bishop.

“Labour’s approach to pay equity has shown they have not changed their stripes since lying their way through the 2023 campaign,” says Mr Bishop.

“By claiming National is cutting women’s pay, Labour is lying to women. National is not cutting women’s pay. The right to equal pay remains as it ever was. It is protected in law and will always be under this Government.

“Labour’s pay equity scheme was broken. Admin workers were being compared with civil engineers and social workers were being compared with detectives. We’re making the law simpler.

“We are not getting rid of pay equity. Pay equity settlements are still expected under the new laws and funding has been set aside to meet the costs of those settlements.

“Labour does not want to talk about the actual facts because they know their approach was increasingly unworkable and strayed from focusing on sex-based discrimination, which we have refocused the legislation on.

“Just a year ago, Labour voted against a Budget with record health investment and against nurses and teachers keeping more of their own money. Since then, Labour has opposed every measure that would grow our economy and lift incomes.

“The facts are: Labour is lying when they claim National is cutting women’s pay. We are not getting rid of equal pay or pay equity. What we are doing is ensuring the pay equity scheme is workable, affordable and sustainable.”

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