Debate on controversial law bill continues

12:30 PM

Parliament is continuing to debate the controversial Employment Relations Bill under urgency this morning after going through until midnight last night.

Opposition parties have been continuing their vigorous attacks against the bill.

National MP Lockwood Smith said the bill delivers too much power to unions.

He said the provision that covers strikes and lockouts is extremely dangerous, and shows how anti-business the Government is.

Dr Smith claims the bill will be the death knell of the Government.

ACT says the public should prepare for a return of union strongarm tactics when the Employment Relations Bill becomes law.

ACT MP Muriel Newman says the proposed legislation will take New Zealand back to the industrial relations chaos of the 1980s.

She says the Government has a nerve to force workers to take strike action.

Some of this morning's debate has also centred on whether parties can vote in Maori.

ACT has been casting its vote in the language.

The debate also covered whether MPs were allowed to bring food into the chamber. One came with a fruitcake which the acting Speaker said was admissible providing it was not eaten.

- IRN