The secret diary of ... The new pay equity legislation
By Steve Braunais
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
As workplace minister, and more importantly as a woman, I am proud today to co-announce changes to pay equity legislation alongside Finance Minister Nicola Willis, who is also a woman.
NICOLA WILLIS
Yes. And we are joined by Judith Collins, Erica Stanford, Louise Upston and Nicola Grigg.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
All women.
NICOLA WILLIS
Six in total, which is roughly the same number of women who vote for Act.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
I don't know if the finance minister has her figures right but that wouldn't be the first time. Moving on. We want to send a message to women. It's a powerful and uplifting message.
NICOLA WILLIS
Yes. The message of the government's changes to pay equity legislation is that many women will no longer have to smash the glass ceiling.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
That's right. Because we've lifted the glass ceiling.
NICOLA WILLIS
That's what the workplace minister meant when she said the message was uplifting.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
Correct. The glass ceiling is now out of reach for thousands of women who were considering making pay equity claims.
NICOLA WILLIS
So no smashing. No broken glass or cut fingers. No more mess.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
It's all very clean. And cleanliness is very important to women. I can see Judith Collins nodding vigorously.
NICOLA WILLIS
Yes, and I can see Prime Minister Christopher Luxon across the room, and he's waving and giving a thumbs-up.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
Not a woman.
NICOLA WILLIS
Indeed not, and more of a man than David Seymour. Moving on. The reforms to pay equity will save the government billions of dollars.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
Which will help plug the hole in Nicola's upcoming Budget.
CHRISTOPHER LUXON
[Shouts] It's got nothing to do with the Budget!
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
Quiet in the cheap seats. David Seymour has said about the pay equity reforms, and I quote, ''I actually think that Brooke van Velden has saved the taxpayer billions, and she's saved the Budget for the government.''
NICOLA WILLIS
Patent nonsense, but what can you expect from a junior partner in the coalition government.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
It's National who are widely perceived as the junior partner. Look at Luxon over there. No-one takes him seriously. He's walked away, and now he's leaning against the wall with his name sewn on to his jacket.
CHRISTOPHER LUXON
[Shouts, gives thumbs-up] Great stuff, girls!
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
Did he just say ''girls''?
NICOLA WILLIS
No.
JUDITH COLLINS
I distinctly heard him say ''girls''.
NICOLA WILLIS
No-one is listening to you, Judith. No-one has listened to you for quite some time.
NICOLA GRIGG
Let's move on, everyone.
BROOKE VAN VELDEN
Which Nicola are you?
NICOLA GRIGG
I'm the minister for women. And I'm here today to say that although the ministry itself was not told about the pay equity reforms or were in any way consulted, that's all right because I'm the minister and I knew all about it, or a little bit anyway, I remember someone saying to me back in March that it was going to be a very good deal for women and not to worry about it.
JOURNALIST
Who told you that?
NICOLA GRIGG
David Seymour.
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