The Government's proposed changes to health and safety laws have been delayed for at least two months because of resistance within the National Party caucus.
Michael Woodhouse Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The Government's proposed changes to health and safety laws have been delayed for at least two months because of resistance within the National Party caucus.
The Health and Safety Reform Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament but is stuck in select committee because National MPs failed to agree on how far the changes should go.
The bill introduces new health and safety laws in the wake of the Pike River mining disaster.
Workplace Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse said the committee was supposed to report back to Parliament by the end of the week but MPs still wanted some changes.
He acknowledged his caucus has expressed some concern about the way the health and safety framework has been administered.
"Around quad bike safety, the wearing of helmets, the degree of red tape perhaps around certain sectors, but what we know is that we have an unacceptably high rate of deaths in our workplaces."
The bill will now be reported back at the end of July.