12. SUE BRADFORD (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Labour
How many times has the Department of Labour prosecuted Bunnings for opening on Easter Sunday, and what has been the total amount of fines sought over the last 5 years across all stores in New Zealand?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Labour) Link to this
Twenty-six. I do not have the exact detail of fines sought—[ Interruption] There is something unusual happening here, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKERYes—please be seated. Would those members who are standing up and moving around the Chamber either sit down or leave the Chamber immediately. We are still on question No. 12.
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
The number of times is 26. I do not have advice as to the exact amount sought, but the total possible fines were $26,000. It is not too hard to work it out.
Is the Minister concerned that the very recent change of heart from Bunnings towards trading on Easter Sunday has followed a letter from Bunnings workers to the Australian Government requesting enforcement of the OECD guidelines on multinational enterprises, rather than as a result of the enforcement work by the Department of Labour?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I am concerned that any company or any individual breaks the law. Whether it is a big company, a small company, a local company, a foreign company, a company that has had a letter, or a company that has not, the company should obey the law.
Hon Dr Nick SmithWhat will the Minister be doing to ensure that New Zealand - owned companies that have indicated they may well open on this coming Easter Sunday—such as Pak ’N Save in Gisborne—will similarly follow New Zealand law rather than just opening their doors for business and collecting fines over and over again, as Bunnings used to do?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I think the member has highlighted a problem with Easter trading laws and penalties. It is clear to anyone who has looked at this issue that the law is not working well. If there is a continuation of a ban on trading on Easter Sunday—and that is the preference of some people as heard under recent consultations—then I do not think there is much doubt that there should be proper penalties.
Gordon CopelandWhat response has the Minister received from unions and churches to his November 2007 discussion document, Easter Trading and Holidays Legislation, and can he confirm that public opinion increasingly supports the view that Easter Sunday should remain set apart for rest, family, worship, and recreation rather than for work?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
A lot of submissions were made from churches and unions on the discussion document and they tended to be opposed either to the current law or, certainly, to any liberalisation. I think it is fair to say that there were a lot of representations the other way. A lot of people think we have got to the point—as shown by the example of Bunnings or Pak ’N Save—where the law has been made very much a farce of and that we should give up pretending to enforce it. I think if any group of members have a discussion amongst themselves, they would probably find that from any four members there would be four different opinions.