Sharples against job-recruits bill

Pita Sharples

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has decided to vote against the bill that would set a 90-day probationary period for new employees.

That means that unless other parties change their stated positions, its success or failure will rest with his fellow Maori Party MPs Tariana Turia, the other co-leader, and Te Ururoa Flavell.

For the bill to pass, it would require the support of just one of the MPs, but if both of them voted against it it would fail.

Unions have been lobbying the Maori Party about the bill, which has been the subject of about 600 written submissions.

Dr Sharples, the MP for Tamaki Makaurau in Auckland, said yesterday that he had held two meetings in his electorate and he had been given clear instructions to vote against the bill.

He had told National Party leader Don Brash and the sponsor of the bill, National industrial relations spokesman Wayne Mapp, of his decision.

Mrs Turia, the MP for Te Tai Hauauru, and Mr Flavell, the MP for Waiariki, said yesterday they would reserve final judgment until the select committee process was completed.

But Mrs Turia said she had not been approached by any employers' group.

Their northern colleague, Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira, has voted against the bill from the outset, but the support of the three other Maori Party MPs allowed it to go to the transport and industrial relations select committee on a 63-58 vote.

Dr Mapp urged the Maori Party to reserve judgment until amendments could be tested. He said he was open to "reasonable amendments" such as including a code of conduct for employers.

Dr Mapp thought the select committee would begin hearing submissions on the bill about the end of next month and that it would be out of the committee before Christmas.

The passing of Dr Mapp's bill would be a major embarrassment for the Labour-led Government.