Podcasts about workplace relations

Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has she made about reforming WorkSafe? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about business tax? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement about the Budget that "Wages are forecast to grow faster than the inflation rate, making wage earners better off, on average, in real terms"; if so, what is the effect on wage growth over the forecast period of removing the $12.8 billion from future pay equity claims? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What announcements has he made on reforming national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Minister for Resources: What announcements has he made regarding energy security in New Zealand? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement in relation to emergency department wait times, "I expect Health New Zealand to empower clinicians at local levels to fix bottlenecks in real time"; if so, is he confident this has occurred ahead of winter 2025? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made regarding learning support as part of Budget 2025? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her proposed changes to WorkSafe; if so, why? PAULO GARCIA to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made about social housing tenancies? Question to Member Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: Why did he respond to the referral by the House to the Finance and Expenditure Committee of the Regulatory Standards Bill with a six-month reporting deadline by issuing a call for submissions with a four-week deadline?

If there's anyone who shouldn't be told they can wind things back on the health and safety front, it's a New Zealander. Because generally, we are absolute shockers when it comes to this sort of thing and our health and safety laws are the only thing standing between our “she'll be right” attitude and misery and tragedy. Especially when you consider that —even with the health and safety laws we have at the moment— our workplace fatality rate is 60% higher than Australia's and more than 500% higher than the UK's. So a perfect time, isn't it, for us to be getting rid of what the Government says is WorkSafe's “safety-at-all costs mentality”? Just in case you think I'm a health and safety freak, I'm not. But I'm also enough of a realist to know that, without these laws, more people would be going home at the end of the day injured or not going home at all. Another reason why us New Zealanders are the last people to be told we can go a bit easy on the old health and safety is that we have very short memories. I haven't forgotten the 19th of November 2010, when the first Pike River explosion happened. I remember distinctly getting home from work that afternoon and all of us watching the live coverage. That was what set-in-train a huge overhaul of health and safety laws because, as we eventually discovered, the guy who ran the mine wasn't the hero we all initially thought he was. Pike River was where it all started. And the government is setting out today to walk all over the progress that we've made since then – apparently because we've gone too far with it. But even though I'm just as capable as the next person of shaking my head at some of the things businesses and employers are required to do in the name of keeping people safe, I'm not happy about the screws being loosened. But what the Government has in its favour is that most people haven't experienced the consequences of things going pear-shaped at work. That's why it's so easy to dismiss health and safety as an overreaction. But I bet if you have known someone who has lost their life at work or if you know someone who has been seriously injured at work, then you'll have a much more realistic view of things. The irony is we've got the Government on one hand saying today that its crackdown on badly-behaved state housing tenants has worked But, on the other hand, it's saying that it wants to be less heavy-handed on employers who don't do everything they can to keep their people safe. Which is why the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, wants WorkSafe to ditch what she's calling its “adversarial nature” and to move from managing risk generally to critical risk. But what on earth does that mean? Do you know the difference between “general” risk and “critical” risk? Example: is an extension cord running across the floor somewhere at work a “general risk” or a “critical risk”? The answer to that depends on the consequence. If the consequence of a power cable running across the floor in the office is just a bit of a nuisance and nothing else, then you could probably categorise it as a “general risk”. But if that cable lying across the floor means someone trips on it and they bang their head pretty hard on a wall and get some sort of brain bleed, then that becomes a “critical risk”, doesn't it? See what I mean? The idea of taking the pedal off the metal and only taking “critical risks” seriously probably sounds great to many of us. But dig a bit deeper or even think about it for a few minutes and you'll realise that it's a huge mistake. It's a bit like Trump coming in and saying that all this Paris climate change stuff is nonsense and suddenly you've got people around the world saying, “yeah yeah, enough of this climate change nonsense”. And the reason that's happening is because people like Trump are giving people permission to go all climate change-sceptic on it. Which is exactly what the Government is doing with its loosening of the health and safety laws. It's giving people permission to go easy on health and safety, which is the last thing us New Zealanders need when our default position is “she'll be right”. It is a disaster waiting to happen, all over again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workplace Relations Minister hopes WorkSafe's incoming culture shift will show they're there to help, not hurt. The Government's instructed the regulator to move away from enforcement and engage early to support risk management. It starts with today's opening of the road cone hotline. Minister Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking businesses shouldn't have to sweat the small stuff. She says there's a culture of over-compliance and too much paperwork, instead of a focus on the risk of death or serious injury. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the Government's fiscal position? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister for Infrastructure: What recent reports has he seen about New Zealand's Infrastructure Pipeline? JENNY MARCROFT to the Minister for Rail: What recent announcements has the Government made regarding rail? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with Hon Brooke van Velden that "the Government, under Minister Nicola Willis' pay equity reset, suggested that the funded sector would not be funded by the Government for pay equity"; if so, how much was set aside in Budget 2024 for the funded sector pay equity claims? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made on delivering new and improved urgent and after-hours services? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her statement that "the Government, under Minister Nicola Willis' pay equity reset, suggested that the funded sector would not be funded by the Government for pay equity"; if not, why not? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by all her statements and actions relating to pay equity? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made about building social housing?

Questions to Ministers Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement about the pay equity changes that "the process that we have set up is fair. It's robust"; if so, how is cancelling 33 pay equity claims under urgency fair? CAMERON BREWER to the Associate Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen about tax and spending in New Zealand? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister of Health: Does he support GP services being free, publicly owned, and adequately resourced to reach underserved communities? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for Women: Has she sought advice on the impact on closing the gender pay gap from moving the pay equity claim threshold from a 60 percent to a 70 percent female-dominated workforce; if not, why not? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about supporting the Government's target of raising student achievement? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Is it accurate that 180,000 workers are affected by the cancelling of 33 pay equity claims? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he believe bottom trawling is damaging; if so, should it be banned? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Was cancelling 33 current pay equity claims consistent with her commitment to reduce persistent disadvantage as outlined in her employment action plan; if not, why not? NANCY LU to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has the Government made about increasing competition in banking? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement, "That is why we are prioritising disabled people, their families and carers"; if so, why? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What recent announcements has he made about strengthening regulation to support the welfare of dogs?

It was a fiery day in Parliament yesterday, with Workplace Relations minister Brooke van Velden quoting a controversial opinion piece and dropping the c-word in Parliament. Was this acceptable? Also, the Greens have released their alternative budget, promising $88 billion in new taxes. Is this lunacy or realistic? To answer those questions, Transport minister and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop and Labour's health and Wellington issues spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the Government's fiscal position? LAURA McCLURE to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has he made regarding school attendance? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made regarding the Government's crackdown on drunk drivers? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with Christopher Luxon, when describing FamilyBoost, that "Our view is it doesn't cost much more to administer"; if so, how much has been spent on administering the scheme relative to the amount paid out? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Minister for Maori Development: Does he stand by his statement that "Over the past 50 years, the Tribunal has made significant contributions to the Maori Crown relationship and informed the settlement of both historical and contemporary Treaty claims impacting generations of whanau across the country"? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she agree with Andrea Vance, who said about the Equal Pay Amendment Bill, "It is a curious feminist moment, isn't it? Six girlbosses - Willis, her hype-squad Judith Collins, Erica Stanford, Louise Upston, Nicola Grigg, and Brooke van Velden - all united in a historic act of economic backhanding other women"; if not, how is unilaterally stopping 33 pay equity claims not a historic act of economic backhanding other women? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Immigration: What update can she provide about the recent changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to attract more global investment to New Zealand? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: What impact will recent changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972 have on public sector workers, particularly women? TIM VAN DE MOLEN to the Minister for Veterans: What investments is the Government making to support veterans in Budget 2025? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?

ACT's Brooke van Velden is not apologising for using the c-word in the House today. The Workplace Relations Minister said it after a question from Labour that referenced an opinion piece in The Post that used it in relation to a group of female ministers. She delivered a strong rebuke - and criticised Labour for bringing it up in the House. She says she stands by saying it. "I wanted to stand up for myself and stand up for all the female Cabinet ministers - that it's not okay that we have misogynistic abuse and it's not okay that it was brought into the Chamber." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by her answer to oral question No. 4 yesterday, in relation to the Equal Pay Amendment Bill, that "I always advocate for women, and I have been consulted on and advised on this legislation from the outset"; if so, on what date was she first consulted regarding the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety's Cabinet paper reviewing pay equity policy settings? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the Government's fiscal position? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: When did she first consider the pay equity changes for inclusion in Budget 2025, and what modelling did she receive, if any, on the number of workers likely to be affected by the Equal Pay Amendment Bill? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Children: E tautoko ana ia i ana korero me ana mahi katoa? Does she stand by all of her statements and actions? LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Children: What recent announcements has she made regarding key performance indicators for Oranga Tamariki? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by all of her answers to oral question No. 11 on 6 May 2025? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her statement, "our priority is building a strong economy to reduce the cost of living, support more people into work and lift incomes for women to help them and their families out of hardship"; if so, how does the Equal Pay Amendment Bill contribute to lifting the incomes of women? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made to boost New Zealand as an international travel destination? LAN PHAM to the Minister for the Environment: Does she consider that she has been a strong advocate for environmental protection in the Government's decisions? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What updates can he provide on New Zealand Music Month? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her statement that "women should be paid for their work"; if so, does she consider that the Equal Pay Amendment Bill will make it harder for hundreds of thousands of women to be paid fairly for their work?

Questions to Ministers NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What are the Government's fiscal intentions and objectives? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made regarding rapid transit in Auckland? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Women: Does she agree with the statement on the Ministry for Women website that "The majority (80%) of the gender pay gap is driven by harder to measure factors like conscious and unconscious bias and differences in choices and behaviours"; if so, how has this shaped her advocacy? CARL BATES to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with Associate Finance Minister David Seymour that "I actually think that Brooke van Velden has saved the taxpayer billions. She's saved the Budget for the Government"; if so, what are the savings from the changes to pay equity? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcement has he made about supporting Women's Refuge through the Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she agree with Thomas Coughlan of the New Zealand Herald, who said about her changes to pay equity legislation that "It is deeply wrong that Parliament can take away that work in a matter of hours"; if not, why not? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by her statement that "increased reporting also shows that people feel like they can report their concerns to Oranga Tamariki or other government agencies and that these reports are being captured and actioned"? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Minister for Regional Development: What reports has he seen on regional development in Northland?

The Government says its new tough rules for pay equity claims will result in major taxpayer savings. The proposed law, which would lift the threshold of pay equity claims of gender-discrimination, is expected to have its third reading this morning. It's caused an uproar, with many women and union groups opposed to the idea. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking she can't yet disclose the exact financial impact. However she says the Crown will save billions of dollars, if passed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Unionists and anti-genocide protestors in Morocco refuse to service Maersk ships carrying F-35 PartsParents for Climate stand against Santos' $5.6 billion gas project Segments:- Three excerpts from professor Gary Foley's talk on Indigenous struggle and resistance of past, present and future held yesterday at Dardi Munwurro in Preston. Gary Foley is a Gumbaynggirr activist, artist, historian and writer. You can listen to the full lecture by Uncle Professor Gary Foley here. - First part of the speeches from the counter rally, held yesterday morning to Support harm reduction and evidence-based healthcare. Standing against stigma, scapegoating, and the criminalisation of people who use drugs.This rally was countering a network of North Richmond business owners, property developers, and local career politicians holding a rally in North Richmond which was promoting a “demand for action” in relation to “safety concerns” about people who use drugs. Part of an ongoing campaign targeting North Richmond's medically supervised drug consumption space and the demonising of people who use this service.  - Interview with Ian Rintoul, author of an article published in Socialist magazine Solidarity, about the CFMEU Administrator's plans. The CFMEU's Administration has announced the next phase of the government-appointed body: a three-year-long and as yet undisclosed 'Strategic Review'.  In its First Bi-Annual Report of the CFMEU — a document updating the Federal Minister for Workplace Relations on the Administrator's progress during its first six months — the Administrator claims multiple times the challenge against the Administration in the High Court has stymied its progress. Eight months in, just two of the dozens of CFMEU officials sacked across the continent when the Administration took control of the Union have formal charges laid against them: Michael and Darren Greenfield, two former NSW Officials, who are alleged to have received bribes from an employer. Music: Sunday Roast - Courtney Barnett  Community notes: - For information of your rights while being within a special designated area, click here. - North Richmond Community are hosting free overdose response training for community members, including residents, traders, and local services on Wednedays through to Fridays. Contact NRCH's Proactive Overose Response Initiative Team at naxolone@nrch.com.au or call 9418 9811 to register.

Aisha Alim is an empowerment coach, mindset strategist, teacher and NLP, Time Line Therapy & Hypnosis Practitioner. She is also a DISC Advanced consultant and holds degrees in teaching and coaching – (B.Ed. – Primary [Hons.], Dip. L.C. [Hons.]). Aisha has written and delivered multiple programs in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. She is a published author on the subject of empowering women and has dedicated over 25 years of her teaching life to personal growth and development expertise.Aisha is a highly experienced coach who is focused on mindset and strategy to achieve identified goals. Aisha is a confident and motivated facilitator and project manager who inspires and ignites ideas in her clients. Aisha has recently finished delivering group coaching programs for men and women funded by the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations 2023-2024.Her program called, “The Confidence Blueprint” is aimed at assisting vulnerable people back into the community by helping them to reframe the way they think, develop confidence, take affirmative action to achieve identified goals and utilise existing support and education services to further their education and training and regain employment. It is the link between being at risk and thriving again.The Confidence Blueprint™ is designed to support and enhance the employment services model by addressing the core issues and barriers women face through a specialised group coaching program, including those who are long-term unemployed and are at a social, emotional or economic disadvantage. The program builds individual self-esteem, confidence and connections to develop a personalised plan to transition to secure employment or further education across a variety of local industries. It also provides a deeper exploration of the issues that contribute to low levels of self-confidence that impact their ability to effectively engage with existing services, training and employment and the community as a whole. By addressing these core issues, the aim is to build confidence, resilience, self-awareness and improve communication skills in order to experience more personal success and transition into sustainable employment. It is a fresh approach to assisting women back into employment.Socials:Website: aishaalim.comLinkedIn: Aisha Alim FB: Aisha Alim Enjoy the visual here on Youtube

Questions to Ministers DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to ensure the victims of crime are put at the heart of the justice system? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister of Education: How does the proposed removal of Resource Teachers of Maori funding align with the Government's commitments to te reo Maori revitalisation and improving Maori student achievement? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister for Maori Development: What recent announcements has he made about supporting Maori economic growth? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement that "Our priority areas will continue to be hardworking everyday New Zealanders, and the frontline services like health, education and Police you rely on"; if so, what is the Government doing to support community-led services? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister for Building and Construction: What is the Government doing to crack down on cowboy builders, and how will this make building easier in New Zealand? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement, "No more excuses. We measure success in one way: better outcomes for patients"; if not, why not? CAMERON LUXTON to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has the Government made about delivering on the ACT-National coalition commitment to reform health and safety law and regulations? Hon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL to the Minister of Climate Change: Is he committed to New Zealand staying in the Paris Agreement? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent steps has the Government taken to unlock data and increase competition? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What are the current costs of workplace deaths and injuries in Aotearoa, and what is the modelled impact, if any, of her health and safety reforms on this cost?

Brent Ferguson, Ai Group's Head of National Workplace Relations Policy, joins Yoness Blackmore, Principal Advisor Workplace Relations Policy, to discuss the latest Significant Workplace Relations Issues report. This podcast provides an update on some of the key issues outlined in the report: the Fair Work Commission's Working from home model term proceedings, and the annual wage review the passing of the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024 Government consultations and announcements on restraint of trade / non-compete clauses

Just recently, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke Van Velden, announced sweeping changes to health and safety regulations for businesses that she described as “low-risk”. Some of the changes involved: narrowing the focus of the Health and Safety at Work Act to risks only causing death, serious injury or illness, creating a hotline for the public to report “overzealous” road cone placement and reducing "tick-box and safety activities" such as psychosocial harm policies for small businesses.  Around this same period of time, Greens MPs Tamatha Paul and Benjamin Doyle received intense media and political scrutiny for comments they made at a university panel and on social media respectively, with the backlash towards Doyle forcing them to abstain from parliament this week. The Greens recently issued a call to the government to scrap their proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, which involve recognising qualifications other than early childhood teaching qualifications, removing up to 74% of ECE licensing criteria and removing requirements for regular updates and family. In their weekly catchup with the Green Party's Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about the party's take on all of these issues.

The war on road cones has ratcheted up, with the coalition government setting up a hotline for people to report the overzealous use of road cones and no, it's not an April Fool's joke. The hotline is part of a first tranche of measures introduced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden, designed to reform the country's health and safety laws so businesses can focus on the necessary and the essential - not on the “senseless and superfluous” as Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking this morning. “One of the things I heard from travelling from Whangarei to Bluff, talking to small business and workers, was that most of them don't know what to do to comply. We're going to make it a lot clearer, so you only need to focus on your critical risks. Things that will actually cause people harm, rather than posters saying warning hot water or warning here is a staircase. We've got to bring some common sense back to New Zealand and to business. “A lot of it is companies finding they're spending a lot of money on over compliance because they are fearful of prosecution. You know, and we've heard it even in the case of traffic management that sometimes some companies are spending nearly half of their project cost on temporary traffic management. So, we're bringing some common sense back and saying look, in some cases you're doing too much and in some cases, we need to focus less on the paperwork and making sure that WorkSafe has a paper trail and more on how you actually reduce harm in your workplace. Let's go back to what you can recognise as things that could cause death or serious illness and injury and not sweat the small stuff.” So businesses will now only notify WorkSafe when significant events occur, such as death, serious injury, and illness, which is a good thing. I remember coming out of the studio door a couple of years ago and a bit of loose metal cut the top of my foot. Not seriously, I required a Band-Aid, not stitches, but I had to fill out a workplace health and safety form. It was an incident. However, the Opposition spokesperson Jan Tinetti says the Government is weakening workplace health and safety reforms and is being reckless. She says health and safety is not a political game, and everyone must get home safely. And whenever I think of the words “getting home safely”, I think of Jahden Nelson. The 28-year-old scaffolder had to have both of his arms amputated after a metal pole he was carrying touched a live overhead power line. The workplace he'd been working on had been given a Close Approach Consent – that's required when work is being done near overhead power lines. The consent required the crew that put up the scaffolding to be the same crew that took it down for safety reasons, so they knew where the power lines were, they knew they were live – it makes sense. However, WorkSafe found none of the four man dismantling crew, including Jahden, had been involved at the outset. The initial crew received a safety briefing – not the dismantling crew. So the company was sentenced, and the fine was reduced to nothing because they couldn't pay it. And you know, ultimately it doesn't really matter what sort of fine they got or what sort of punishment they got because Jahden's the one who is living without his arms. A 28-year-old man, fit, strong, healthy, goes to work, spends six months in hospital, his life has changed forever because some numpty didn't bother to assess the critical risk and tell the dismantling crew ‘make sure the overhead power lines are switched off'. Or you don't go near them, or they're insulated. And that, I guess, is what Brooke van Velden is talking about, that if firms are focused on the critical risk factors involved in the business it makes much more sense than saying be careful of the Zip, the water's hot. We have an absolutely shocking record of work-related deaths. An estimated 10,000 people, men, women, and, in some cases, children have died from occupational ill health or workplace fatalities since 2010 – in 15 years, 10,000 people have died. And then you've got people like Jahden: didn't die. Has his life changed? You betcha. 420,000 people were injured at work. So I think some of these dumb rules came as a result of people just desperate to ensure that workers went to work and came home safely. I think they were trying everything, throwing everything at it. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has data from 2022, and it allows comparison between countries that use a risk management framework, which we've done since Pike River since 2010. According to this, almost three times as many people die at work in New Zealand than in the UK. So more rules, the word soup, hasn't made us safer. What will? What is it going to take to prevent the deaths of 10,000 more people over the next 15 years and having 420,000 people's lives changed - some irrevocably? Fewer rules and thinking for yourself? Well, that was a very laissez-faire attitude – that was the she'll be right attitude that some of the old timers still have. Surely there's got to be a balance between the she'll be right and the word soup. There's got to be a happy medium that sees workers go to work and come home safe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pledge to "bring back common-sense" to New Zealand's approach to workplace health and safety. The Government confirms small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce compliance costs. It's also planning a telephone hotline to report excess road cone use. Minister-in-Charge, Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking most companies are happy with the core of the Workplace Safety Act, but don't know how to comply. She says the Government will clarify it so businesses can focus on its critical risks, rather than posters warning of a hot water tap or staircase. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small businesses will have less health and safety obligations under new reforms. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has revealed her first changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act. She says small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce compliance costs. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it will bring a sigh of relief from small businesses - who are able to just focus on their success. "Safety is still paramount, but what we're seeing here is a clarification of what the responsibilities are." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small businesses will have less health and safety obligations under new reforms. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has revealed her first changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act. She says small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce compliance costs. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it will bring a sigh of relief from small businesses - who are able to just focus on their success. "Safety is still paramount, but what we're seeing here is a clarification of what the responsibilities are." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP to the Minister for Economic Growth: Will she ensure that her proposal to scrap the living wage requirement in Government contracts for cleaning, catering, and security guard services will not result in pay cuts for these workers? PAULO GARCIA to the Minister of Revenue: What recent announcements has he made on the foreign investment fund rules? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: What steps, if any, has he taken to guard against regulatory capture of the Ministry for Primary Industries by New Zealand's commercial fishing sector? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she agree with Brooke van Velden's statement, "I think a lot of people in New Zealand do live on minimum wage and we have to allow people to make ends meet"; if so, how many Government contractors are currently paid the minimum wage? KATIE NIMON to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made on refreshing New Zealand's eating disorders strategy? STEVE ABEL to the Minister of Agriculture: Does he agree that trade access to overseas markets is a key component of protecting the export performance of New Zealand's agricultural sector? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing: What is the Government doing to support small businesses and manufacturers? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister for Rail: Has the Government received any alternative proposals for the procurement of new Cook Strait ferries from the private sector; if so, how many? JENNY MARCROFT to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcements has she made regarding upgrades to New Zealand's air ambulance fleet? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing: What work has the Government done to support the hunting and fishing community? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: How will the Government back up its promise to ensure fair prices for Kiwi consumers?

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is running the Fee-Free TAFE campaign to encourage individuals from multicultural communities to consider enrolling in TAFE courses tuition-free. In this podcast, SBS Hindi speaks with nursing professional Harleen Kaur who shares her experience of acquiring the necessary skills to work in the care services sector in Australia.

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? PAULO GARCIA to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What announcements has she made about restoring balance in employment relations? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore stronger consequences for crime? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by all her statements and actions in relation to serious youth offenders and the military-style academies? JAMIE ARBUCKLE to the Minister for Regional Development: What recent announcements has he made regarding steps the Government is taking to support regional development? CARL BATES to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made about increasing visitor numbers to New Zealand? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement that being involved in organised crime and peddling drugs is not going to be tolerated in this country, and it's going to be much tougher to do any of those things; if so, why? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? KATIE NIMON to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has he made about conservation?

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer, in an inspiring conversation with Vanessa Hicks, Manager of Capability Development and Business Transformation for Downer Group. In the last episode of Season 4, episode 32, we delve into the transformative power of social procurement and its impact on building a more inclusive and resilient workforce in Greater Bendigo.Discover how Downer Group has embraced social procurement to make job opportunities more accessible, particularly during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vanessa shares her insights on creating inclusive workplaces, offering peer support programmes, and the significant role mentoring plays in improving retention rates.Explore the success stories of employing disadvantaged individuals and the ripple effects of providing meaningful employment opportunities. Learn about the unique recruitment and onboarding strategies that led to a remarkable 97% retention rate among new hires, and the partnerships with local organisations that made it all possible.This episode is a must-listen for business leaders and professionals looking to integrate social responsibility into their business practices. Gain practical advice on building capabilities around social procurement and partnering with local organisations to drive positive change in the community.Don't miss this enlightening discussion on how businesses can leverage social procurement to foster a sustainable and inclusive economy in Greater Bendigo.THIS PODCAST IS SUPPORTED BY WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA LOCAL JOBS BENDIGOWorkforce Australia Local Jobs is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. ABOUT OUR HOST BEN DILLONBen Dillon is the Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital project for Downer. Passionate about workforce development and community engagement, Ben is dedicated to empowering local businesses and building a skilled workforce for the future.ABOUT BE.BENDIGOEvery successful community has a strong and growing business community. Be.Bendigo exists to provide a range of information, support and programs to assist, develop and grow our Greater Bendigo business community. We are a member-based organisation with a commitment to developing our business so that we can continue to add value for our members, partners and stakeholders.Find out more via our website. Be social on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer, as he embarks on an inspiring journey with Michael Robertson, Director at JL King & Co. & Simply Tasty, a beacon of social responsibility and innovation in Greater Bendigo. Discover how this iconic brand, crowned Business of the Year in 2024, has evolved from humble beginnings to a nationally recognised name in food service and manufacturing.Michael shares the rich history of J.L. King & Co., a business that has been part of the Bendigo community since 1913. Learn about the transformative impact of social procurement, as Michael discusses the company's commitment to partnering with local suppliers and fostering a multicultural and inclusive workforce. From employing individuals with disabilities to celebrating cultural diversity, J.L. King & Co. is a testament to the power of community-driven growth.Explore the innovative strategies that have propelled J.L. King & Co. to success, including their focus on sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint. Hear about their cutting-edge facility, built with local tradespeople, which stands as one of the greenest in Australia for ready meals production.This episode is a must-listen for business leaders and entrepreneurs seeking to integrate social responsibility into their business practices. Gain valuable insights on building strong supplier relationships, supporting local communities, and creating a workplace culture that champions diversity and inclusion.Whether you're a business owner, professional, or simply passionate about supporting local enterprises, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration to drive positive change in your community.THIS PODCAST IS SUPPORTED BY WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA LOCAL JOBS BENDIGOWorkforce Australia Local Jobs is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. ABOUT OUR HOST BEN DILLONBen Dillon is the Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital project for Downer. Passionate about workforce development and community engagement, Ben is dedicated to empowering local businesses and building a skilled workforce for the future.ABOUT BE.BENDIGOEvery successful community has a strong and growing business community. Be.Bendigo exists to provide a range of information, support and programs to assist, develop and grow our Greater Bendigo business community. We are a member-based organisation with a commitment to developing our business so that we can continue to add value for our members, partners and stakeholders.Find out more via our website. Be social on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Questions to Ministers LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has she made in her workplace relations and safety portfolio? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made on Government finances? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? KATIE NIMON to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What progress has been made in meeting the commitment in the Government's Quarter Four Action Plan to "Passing the Fast-track Approvals Bill to speed up delivery of regional and national projects of significance"? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Health: What recent statements has the Government made on keeping emergency departments safe this summer? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his refusal to be interviewed on cuts to information technology in hospitals on the ground that it is an operational matter; if so, can he guarantee that hospital care and data will be safe? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made about getting councils back to basics? LAN PHAM to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister for Rail: Does he stand by his statement regarding any new Cook Strait ferries that "Rail-enabled ferries is part of our considerations, yes, and that is a no-brainer"; if so, will he guarantee that the new ferries will be rail-enabled?

The government is going back to the drawing board on its reforms to the Holidays Act, which will overhaul how annual leave is calculated. The Workplace Relations and Safety minister Brooke Van Velden has pushed out her rewrite, and instead is opting to start from scratch. While businesses are pleased it could lead to a simpler leave system, Labour is worried workers will miss out. Political reporter Giles Dexter reports. 

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all the Government's statements and actions? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Finance: When will the next Budget Policy Statement be released? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister for Rail: Does he stand by his statement regarding the new Cook Strait ferries that "It will be, and can be, rail-enabled"; if so, is he confident that he can deliver them for less than the $551 million that was under contract with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to make stalking an illegal and jailable offence? HUHANA LYNDON to the Minister for Maori Development: What measures, if any, has the Government taken to ensure the financial sustainability of Whakaata Maori, and have these measures been adequate? HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE to the Minister of Police: Does he accept the findings of the New Zealand Police in their Understanding Policing Delivery report that Maori men are stopped, tasered, and prosecuted by the Police at disproportionately higher rates than any other group as a result of structural racism? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Agriculture: What reports has he seen on export revenue forecasts for the primary sector? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister for Children: To what extent does she accept responsibility for the outcomes of Oranga Tamariki's actions in relation to community provider funding cuts and military-style academies? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Prime Minister: What update can he provide on the coalition Government's progress? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her statement that the Government is "delivering for all workers"; if so, how is reintroducing pay deductions for partial strikes delivering for workers? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What steps has the Government recently taken to enhance competition and boost economic productivity? TAMATHA PAUL to the Minister for Children: What changes, if any, will she consider making to ensure that tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa are safe?

Join our host, Ben Dillon, Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital Project for Downer, as he embarks on an enlightening journey into the world of social enterprises with Jennie Walker, a leading voice in the field.Discover the incredible work being done at Pepper Green Farm, a social enterprise that supports people with disabilities by providing meaningful employment opportunities. Jennie shares her personal journey and the mission of Pepper Green Farm, highlighting the diverse range of services they offer, from vegetable growing to catering and grounds maintenance.Learn about the concept of social enterprises, businesses that prioritise people and planet over profit, and how they differ from traditional not-for-profits. Jenny provides insights into the many social enterprises operating in the region and their positive impact on the community.Explore practical strategies for businesses to engage with social enterprises and integrate social responsibility into their operations. Gain valuable advice on building capabilities around social procurement and creating inclusive workplaces that leverage the unique strengths of individuals.This episode is a must-listen for any professionals seeking to enhance their social impact and contribute to a more resilient and inclusive economy.THIS PODCAST IS SUPPORTED BY WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA LOCAL JOBS BENDIGOWorkforce Australia Local Jobs is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. ABOUT OUR HOST BEN DILLONBen Dillon is the Operations Manager of Soft Services at the Bendigo Hospital project for Downer. Passionate about workforce development and community engagement, Ben is dedicated to empowering local businesses and building a skilled workforce for the future.ABOUT BE.BENDIGOEvery successful community has a strong and growing business community. Be.Bendigo exists to provide a range of information, support and programs to assist, develop and grow our Greater Bendigo business community. We are a member-based organisation with a commitment to developing our business so that we can continue to add value for our members, partners and stakeholders.Find out more via our website. Be social on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

An upcoming change to the Employment Relations Act means workers earning over $180,000 will lose the right to raise unjustified dismissal claims. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the change allows more flexible dismissal processes for high-income employees. Gareth Abdinor from Abdinor Employment Law tells Matt Heath and Tyler Adams that it makes it easier to move someone on who doesn't have the chops for the job. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workers earning over $180,000 will lose the right to raise unjustified dismissal claims under a new policy. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the change allows more flexible dismissal processes for high-income employees. The policy aims to enhance labour market flexibility and will be introduced through the Employment Relations Amendment Bill next year. Workers making over $180,000 a year will no longer be able to raise an unjustified dismissal claim if they lose their job once a new Government policy takes effect. The upcoming change to the Employment Relations Act “will enable employers to ensure they have the right fit for their high-impact leadership and specialist roles”, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said. The policy, described as a “more flexible dismissal process for high-income employees”, delivers on the Act-National coalition agreement to set an income threshold above which personal grievances cannot be pursued. “This policy is about offering workers and employers more choice when negotiating contracts. “Employers and employees are free to opt back into unjustified dismissal protection if they choose to or negotiate their own dismissal procedures that work for them,” van Velden said. She said the policy was “paving the way for the next generation of leadership” when she spoke to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB. “One of the classic cases of grievance from businesses is you want to take a chance on someone, but you're too afraid if something goes wrong, how on earth will it work out.” “You've got someone in the workforce who is maybe quite skilled, got a good attitude, but if you push them up to that next leadership level into management, you know, if it doesn't work out and they aren't a good fit, this allows you to move them on.” Van Velden said many people would have worked with a manager “who has led to poor productivity, low morale, and the boss and the workers are just sitting there and waiting for this person for years and years to want to move on”. The change would provide greater labour market flexibility and would benefit employers and workers, she said. “This policy allows employers to give workers a go in these high-impact positions without having to risk a costly and disruptive dismissal process if things don't work out.” The income threshold of $180,000 will cover about 3.4% of the workforce. The threshold will be adjusted annually to match increases in average weekly earnings. “The change will be progressed through the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which I aim to introduce in 2025,” van Velden said. The income threshold refers to a regular base salary and excludes other income such as incentive payments and benefits like vehicle use. Employees earning over $180,000 will still be able to raise other types of personal grievances. Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on Government finances? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcement has she made regarding funding for Hato Hone St John? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement that "Parties on this side of the House are backing the workers"; if so, how does the growing number of unemployed people reflect this? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Immigration: What recent announcement has she made about supporting high-skilled migrants and their families? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that there is a "workforce crisis" in the health sector; if so, what is he doing to stop doctors being tied up in paperwork as Health NZ cuts administration and advisory staff? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Police: Does he agree with the Bay of Plenty district commander's message to gangs yesterday that police "will find you and you will be held accountable for your destructive behaviour"; if so, why? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she agree with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions that "This is the most anti-worker government that we've seen in decades"; if not, why not? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Minister of Police: Is he confident that bias and structural racism in the police force, as was found in the Understanding Policing Delivery report, has no influence on the conduct of police during raids in Maori communities, such as the raids in Opotiki yesterday? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing: Does he stand by his answer to oral question No. 6 yesterday? LAN PHAM to the Minister for the Environment: Does she stand by her comment in the committee of the whole House yesterday that "I made it very explicit that this Government wants to see improvements in freshwater over time and that our Resource Management Act work will be towards that"?

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements and actions? NANCY LU to the Minister for the Public Service: What recent announcements has she made on Public Service working arrangements? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "We are focused on supporting our economy to grow"; if so, how much has GDP per capita changed since she took office? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Health: What actions has the Government taken to restrict the sale and use of nitrous oxide for recreational use? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Are negotiations for the exit of the contract with Hyundai for new Interislander ferries still ongoing; if so, when can New Zealanders expect an announcement from the Government on replacement ferries? LAURA TRASK to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has he made in relation to charter schools? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Police: How are Police delivering on his priorities of disrupting gangs and organised crime and strengthening policing in our communities? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she agree with Christopher Luxon, who said modern slavery is an issue for which he would "march in the streets"; if so, how does she reconcile this with the disbanding of the Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group? GREG FLEMING to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent updates has he received regarding the Government's target to reduce households in emergency housing by 75 percent by 2030? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Children: Does she agree that Oranga Tamariki has a role to play in preventing abuse and harm before tamariki and rangatahi enter care; if so, how does she reconcile this with cutting $18 million to Oranga Tamariki prevention-focused contracted services?

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Maori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti: E whakapono ana ia kei te hapai tenei Kawanatanga i ona herenga me ana mahi ki te iwi Maori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi? Does he believe this Government is upholding its obligations and duties to Maori under te Tiriti o Waitangi? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about support for families? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement she would "make good economic decisions so people can actually see better prospects in New Zealand, that's essentially our mission"; if so, why have a new record of net 55,800 Kiwis moved overseas in the year ended July 2024? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Education: What recent changes has she made to increase the number of relief teachers available in school classrooms? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What changes has she recently announced about improving certainty for those in contracting relationships? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement, "Kiwis ought to feel safe going about their daily lives, and that is why this Government is focused on restoring law and order, and putting victims first"; if so, why? PAULO GARCIA to the Minister of Justice: What actions is the Government taking to ensure criminals face real consequences for crime? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko tonu ana ia i ana korero me ana mahi katoa? Does he stand by all his statements and actions? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister of Police: What "promising results" has he seen on the Government's plan to restore law and order? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Will his changes to the rules for Buy Now Pay Later make things worse for the one in five New Zealand users who forgo essential spending such as paying bills or buying food to pay off these purchases? HUHANA LYNDON to the Minister for Maori Development: Kei te whakaae ia ki te Tumuaki o Whakaata Maori kua ki nei ko nga panonitanga putea mo Whakaata Maori i hua mai i nga "kaupapa here Kawanatanga e huri haere ana"; mena ae, kei te tau ia ki te whakaaro ko nga hua o aua kaupapa here kia huri te hongere reo Maori ki te ipurangi anake, me te whakawhaiti i te haumitanga ki nga kaupapa Maori? Does he agree with the chief executive of Whakaata Maori, who said the funding changes for Whakaata Maori were the result of "shifting government policies"; if so, is he comfortable that Government policies are resulting in the Te Reo television channel becoming online-only and reduced investment in Maori content?

The Government's proposing new criteria to define who's a contractor and who's an employee. 'Contractors' will need to have signed a contract, stating they're an independent contractor. They must be able to subcontract out any set hours, they can't be prevented from working for other people, and they can't be fired for not taking on extra tasks. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says the Government is looking to change the law next year. "Most of this has been built through case law over time, so it's not actually clear enough in the law how individual contract arrangements work." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister for the Public Service: What recent reports has she seen about public sector pay increases? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made in lifting immunisation rates for New Zealanders, particularly high-needs communities? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with Nicola Willis, who, prior to the 2023 election, said, "For many people, things feel so bleak that they are looking at opportunities overseas and voting with their feet, with almost 40,000 Kiwis permanently leaving the country last year"; if so, why did 80,000 Kiwis move overseas in the year up to June 2024? LAURA TRASK to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What recent announcements has she made about phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent changes has she made to support people on the jobseeker benefit into work? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his response to being asked what is the biggest thing he's done since he took office, "Oh, I think probably, the letter of expectation that I put out there for the commissioner"; if so, why? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she believe employees are ever wrongly categorised as contractors; if so, what remedy do they have to change their employment status? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made on speed limits in Christchurch? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by her statement to Radio New Zealand that "The document you have referred to was not generated or collated by any members of my office, was not left on my desk by any member of my office, and was only received as a hard copy on 6 December 2023"; if so, was the document received by her directly or another member of her office?

The New Zealand Uber drivers have won their case in the Court of Appeal. It agrees with the Employment Court that Uber drivers should be employees, not contractors.  Other courts in other countries have broadly come down on the same lines.  But not in California. The other day, the court there agreed with the people. And the people had voted in a proposition that drivers should be contractors because that's what drivers signed up to.  So you can ask, is democracy right? Or is a court right?  The court here said: the critical point is we think that while a driver is logged into the app, that driver has no opportunity to establish any business goodwill of their own.  I guess that's true, but it makes no sense.  In a pure gig model, you get to choose. You choose to work, or you choose to not work. It's about flexibility. The moment you are an employee, yes you get leave, but you also lose some control. Despite what the court and the four drivers think, some people like flexibility and freedom.  The court said drivers couldn't bargain with Uber. That, of course, is correct. But that's the whole point of a gig deal. It's predicated on the idea that if the deal is so bad no one will work for them. And the counter to the no bargain and all the other lack of overarching rules and regulations, is it's a simple take it or leave it.  If you find it too egregious, don't take it. If you want a union, industrial action, pay agreements, time in lieu, and stop work meetings, be a teacher or nurse.  The tricky part now, apart from the fact Uber will take it to the Supreme Court, which they should, is that the government are reviewing Workplace Relations, and given its driven by ACT, I suspect it will be looking to free things up a bit and this court case and its decision may well be a victim of what eventually gets passed as law.  No, we don't want seven-year-olds going down mines, hence we need protections. But it's not Victorian England, it's New Zealand 2024, and if you choose to be your own person, all power to you, and the courts can stay out of your life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Hadley has reacted to a press conference by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's statements and actions? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Finance: What was the final operating allowance in Budget 2024? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Associate Minister of Justice: How will the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill ensure consequences for repeat serious violent and sexual offenders while delivering justice for victims? ANDY FOSTER to the Minister for Regional Development: What announcements has he made about investing in regional economic growth? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement that her Budget will have "less verbiage, fewer pretty pictures, and a lot more substance"; if not, why not? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has the Government made about law and order? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's statements and actions? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he stand by his answers to oral question No. 10 yesterday that the KiwiRail iReX contract with Hyundai has been "repudiated and ongoing discussions are continuing around the exit cost of that"; if so, was that repudiation a unilateral decision by KiwiRail or agreed by all parties? KATIE NIMON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent changes, if any, has the Government made to contribute to the target to have 50,000 fewer people on the jobseeker benefit by 2030? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Will she take steps to progress work on addressing modern slavery and exploitation in New Zealand's supply chain; if so, when? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister for Building and Construction: What announcements has the Government made about making it easier to build granny flats?

The Government's drafting legislation to change the Holidays Act 2003, and will put it out for consultation in September. It'll include proposals to pro-rata sick leave and move annual leave from an entitlement system, to one using accrual. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says she aims to simplify the Act so businesses can spend less time on workplace admin. "It hasn't really adapted to a modern, flexible work environment - which is what we're aiming to achieve." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show, Senator Cash discusses breaking issues in Australian politics. Later, Kate Whitehead discusses Australian businesses being locked out of funding in new government development grant program. GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and a Liberal Senator for Western Australia. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Kate Whitehead is the founder and Managing Director of Avant Group, a leading business strategy and government grant consulting firm.

Where to start this week. Cataracts... That's where. Then, dating app profiles, whether or not Vogue is an "island person" and the whole thing with Jojo Siwa. If you'd like to get in touch, you can send an email to hello@MTGMpod.comPlease review Global's Privacy Policy: global.com/legal/privacy-policy/For merch, tour dates and more visit: www.mytherapistghostedme.com/For more information about Joanne's gigs, visit: www.joannemcnally.comThis episode contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.Thank you!

The Workplace Relations Minister says Easter trading laws are outdated. Two Wānaka New World supermarkets are likely to be fined after remaining open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in a potential breach of the weekend's trading laws. A Foodstuffs spokesperson says it was done to make sure people have convenient access to groceries throughout the break. Brooke van Velden says while people should follow the law, she understands the frustration. "This law is outdated- and I'm not ruling out looking into it in a longer-term framework." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers MILES ANDERSON to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about the Budget operating allowance? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Did the reports she received from Whaikaha that she referred to in her answer to question No. 4 yesterday contain figures of those who used disability support funding for pedicures and massages, or did they just contain anecdotal evidence? MIKE BUTTERICK to the Minister of Education: What recent reports has she seen about student behaviour in classrooms? CAMERON LUXTON to the Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms): Is it important that licensed firearms owners take the time to revise the rules of firearms safety over the coming months? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister for the Public Service: Does she agree with Nicola Willis's promise in 2023 that no cuts will be made to any front-line services? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What advice, if any, has she seen on the impact of the Government's coalition agreement policies on workers? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: What recent announcement has she made in the science, innovation and technology portfolio? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by all his statements and actions? JAMES MEAGER to the Minister for Building and Construction: What announcements has he made on removing red tape in the building system? STEVE ABEL to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he stand by all his statements and actions? Hon RACHEL BROOKING to the Minister for the Environment: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Minister for Mental Health: What is his response to the rate of suspected suicide which, according to Te Whatu Ora's data for 2022, is 51.9 per 100,000 for Maori males aged 25-44 years compared to 16.4 per 100,000 for non-Maori males?

Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister for Disability Issues? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made on the Budget? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's policies and actions? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made about assisting New Zealanders who need to travel to receive health treatment? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Transport: What recent reports has he seen on the Brynderwyn Hills? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister for Space: What recent announcement has she made in her Space portfolio? STEVE ABEL to the Minister for Regional Development: Does he stand by his statement that "Seabed mining has a legitimate place in New Zealand's regional economy"; if not, why not? REUBEN DAVIDSON to the Minister of Statistics: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?

Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has she made in her portfolio? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Finance: What announcements has she recently made about supporting low- and middle-income families? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her commitment not to cut frontline services? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister for Infrastructure: What steps is the Government taking to address New Zealand's infrastructure deficit? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Minister for Seniors: What recent reports has she seen regarding the aged-care sector? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement in the House, "no disabled person will lose access to funding for essential services"; if so, why are insulin pumps and diabetes monitors being excluded from Whaikaha's disability support funding? KATIE NIMON to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made on period products in schools? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's statements and actions? Hon JENNY SALESA to the Minister for Ethnic Communities: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister for Trade: What actions has the Government taken to support trade with the Middle East?

The Workplace Relations Minister says businesses want the Government to simplify employment laws.  Brooke van Velden has laid out her agenda for this term, including focusing on regulations around contractors, public holidays, health and safety rules, and personal grievances   Also a priority is sorting out the law around holidays.   van Velden told Mike Hosking that she wants to simplify laws and give certainty around the Holidays Act.   She says because the law is so complex, a lot of businesses have found themselves non-compliant, even the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government says it'll repeal Fair Pay Agreements by Christmas. It's also restated its intention to extend 90 day trials to every business in the country, not just those with fewer than 19 workers. The move has put the government on a collision course with unions, who rallied outside David Seymour's office in Auckland today. A leaked Cabinet paper has revealed the Workplace Relations minister, Brooke Van Velden, ignored advice from Treasury and claims there was no consultation. Emma Stanford was there.

The new Workplace Relations and Safety minister has a busy two weeks ahead, with promises to axe Fair Pay Agreements by Christmas, and start work to reinstate 90-day trials. ACT's deputy leader Brooke van Velden has rocketed into Cabinet - but her relationship with unions is already off to a rocky start. RNZ political reporter Giles Dexter has more.

“The times they are a-changin'.”  As the new generation of funeral directors finds its way into the profession, a lot can be said about the challenges that can exist as far as workplace relations go.  Debates about “the new way” vs “the old way” arise.  Both the definition and style of communication take new meaning to different individuals - which can give way to miscommunication and misinterpretation.  Struggles with technology, new ideas, and even levels of respect can also contribute to conflict and frustration.  So how do we bring harmony to the multigenerational workforce at our funeral home?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with funeral director and author, Antonio Green to discuss just that.  Antonio shares some of what he has learned from personal experience, presenting on and writing about professional collaboration, specifically with the millennial generation.