Tomorrow, not tonight
March 12th, 2013 at 12:00 pm by David FarrarAndrea Vance reports at Stuff:
The Government has rescinded its threat to veto the Mondayisation bill, which seems set to pass tonight.
That would be most surprising as members’ bills are only debated on every second Wednesday and today is Tuesday,
The private members bill, introduced by Labour MP David Clark, is up for a crucial second reading and looks to have the numbers. It would give Kiwis a Monday off when Waitangi Day and Anzac Day fall on a weekend.
National had rejected the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and Anzac Day) Amendment Bill. Last year Finance Minister Bill English said the Government would use a financial veto to oppose it.
However, speaking from Brazil this morning, Prime Minister John Key said it had now decided not to exercise that power.
The “lineball call” decision was made at a caucus meeting three weeks ago.
That is the right decision. The financial veto should only be used on bills which have a fairly significant financial impact such as the paid parental leave bill. But the impact on the Crown finances of four extra days off every seven years is minimal. Arguably in fact there is no financial impact – just a small drop in work productivity.
Key conceded the cost would largely be borne by the private sector and wasn’t a “huge” bill for the Government.
“It’s a hard cost to quantify because there is a whole lot of factors you have to take into account…we pretty much reserve the veto for government expenditure.”
Most private sector employers aren’t really too worried by this bill either. We budget for employees to have 11 public holidays a year. The fact that some years they only get 9 or 10 isn’t something that employers get excited over.
We Mondayise pretty much all other holidays, so including Waitangi and ANZAC Days just means w are being consistent.
Related posts:
- Mondayising Waitangi and Anzac Days
- Mondayised Holdiays
- The Mondayisation bill
- Will the Mondayisation bill pass?
March 12th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
There’s been debate about whether English threatened a veto on this bill.
That’s how I remember it, a veto promised for Paid Parental Leave but none threatened on this Monday-ise bill.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Must admit I agree with this bill. Hush my mouth !!!!
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
He is not “coming out in support”. The national party will still vote against it. All they have agreed to do is to refrain from applying their power of veto.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
So why is our illustrious leader opposed to the Bill? Apart from the obvious reason that it’s a Labour bill…
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Who said he was coming out in support?
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
What isn’t clear to me is if that will mean two public holidays for seven day businesses like mine. When Christmas falls on a weekend I have to pay four days worth of public holidays. So I already pay all the public holidays out, no matter which way they fall. This is just extra expense for me.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
A good call. The Nats can vote against in principle but still not stand in the way of a popular and populist move. It simply makes consistent the fact that New Zealanders should enjoy 11 public holidays every year unlike the current situation.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Ross69 asked “Who said he was coming out in support?”
Dunno … somebody who seems to have changed their mind.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Always a good way to get popular, spend other people’s money and act like it’s you that’s being generous. Politics encapsulated in one bill.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Admit defeat as graciously as possible and let it pass.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Spain still has more public holidays then New Zealand; if we are ever to aspire to a Spanish-type economy we need more government mandated holdiays. This is too important for employers and employees to sort out between themselves.
This, together with goverment moves to increase the cost of employees through increased FBT will be part of the path to the prosperity New Zealand deserves.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
I could supply two people with employment.
I don’t.
This is (part) of the reason why.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
I found an old post that doesn’t clear up the confusion about whether Bill English threatened a veto.
NZ Herald:
But Stuff:
http://yournz.org/2012/07/25/veto-monday-ising-bill-english/
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
This is DPF at his worst.
The fact that it is small makes it fine in his eyes.
The bigger problem is it is wrong. And the sum total of all these small additional costs is a fucked up culture and a fucked up economy.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
oh yay, NZ is taking another step towards being totally unproductive and falling behind the rest of the world
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
I’m an employer and I must say I couldn’t give a fuck either way.
To me, I see this bill as being like the scene in Monty Python’s Meaning of Life where they are dusting the tables and polishing spoons, oblivious to the mountains of vomit on the carpet. Don’t worry about the whole debt crisis thing, so long as we can mondayise Waitangi day and have gay marriages.
Best thing John Key can do is push it through quickly and move onto something important.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 7:17 pm
Sadu. I’m long way from convinced that the Nats. and this parliament have any idea whatso ever of what is actually important. Other than spending OPM.
Vote:March 12th, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Littlebluedroid @ 12.53
It’s not that hard to work out.
Vote:http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0129/latest/DLM236387.html
Are you just not understanding? or just being a unionist stirrer? I hope I am wrong on the latter
March 12th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
“Tomorrow, not tonight”
Reporters have to write versions of stories for online “tomorrow” and for print “tonight” (as it will be published the next day).
Either Andrea slipped or Stuff used the wrong version.
Either way, a glitch rather than a misunderstanding of Parliamentary schedules.
Vote: