MORENA, GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY MOTHERS DAY AND WELCOME TO Q+A. I'M CORIN DANN. WHAT'S IN STORE FOR WORKERS AND BOSSES WHAT'S IN STORE FOR WORKERS AND BOSSES AS THE LABOUR-LED GOVERNMENT PRESSES ON WITH CHANGES TO EMPLOYMENT LAWS? WILL THERE BE PAY RISES? WILL UNIONS GET MORE MUSCLE? AND IS RUNNING A BUSINESS ABOUT TO GET TOUGHER? WE'LL GET SOME ANSWERS FROM WORKPLACE RELATIONS MINISTER IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY, OUR LEAD INTERVIEW THIS MORNING. THEN, WHENA OWEN'S BEEN GETTING THE INSIDE RUNNING ON THE TROUBLED STATE OF OUR RACING INDUSTRY. HOPEFULLY THERE'S GONNA BE A CHANGE ` WINSTON PETERS. SO YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN WINSTON PETERS? I AM. I EVEN VOTED FOR HIM BECAUSE OF THE RACING. AND U.S. CORRESPONDENT REBECCA WRIGHT REPORTS FROM A BERNIE SANDERS RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA NEXT. SHE ASKS GRASSROOTS DEMOCRATS IF THEIR PARTY IS READY TO TAKE ON TRUMP IN 2020. WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS AT THE MOMENT, IN THIS CYCLE? WE'RE IN DISARRAY. AND STANDING BY TO OFFER THEIR ANALYSIS ` DR JENNIFER CURTIN, RICHARD PREBBLE AND SUE BRADFORD, OUR PANEL TODAY. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND GLENNA CASALME. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 LET'S DO SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE WEEK IN POLITICS FIRST. QUESTIONS ` IS IT SURPRISING THAT NATIONAL WON'T YET COMMIT TO BACKING LABOUR'S DECISION TO FUND LIGHT RAIL TO AUCKLAND AIRPORT? ANSWER ` SADLY NOT, REALLY. IT SEEMS OUR POLITICIANS OF ALL STRIPS ARE INCAPABLE OF MAKING BIPARTISAN DECISIONS ON BIG LONG TERM PROJECTS. QUESTION ` WHY ON EARTH DID THE FINANCE MINISTER CALL FOR MORE BELT TIGHTENING IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, WHEN THIS WEEK HE'S DELIVERING A BUDGET WITH SURPLUS? ANSWER ` BECAUSE AS MUCH AS BUDGETS ARE ABOUT THE MONEY, THEY ARE ALSO A POWERFUL POLITICAL TOOL, AND THIS BUDGET IS DESIGNED TO SHOW THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT LABOUR ISN'T A SPENDTHRIFT. QUESTION ` ARE THE REVELATIONS THIS WEEK THAT KIWIFRUIT ORCHARDISTS What is happening in Malaysia that they have brought back in 92 year old Malaysian prime minister? I'm not sure about what's going on, but this goes to show that age is no barrier in politics and our veterans like Winston peters are spring chickens. QUESTION ` ARE THE REVELATIONS THIS WEEK THAT KIWIFRUIT ORCHARDISTS URGENTLY NEED ANOTHER THOUSAND FRUIT PICKERS A SIGN NEW ZEALAND IS RUNNING OUT OF WORKERS? ANSWER ` YES, MAYBE, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE A SIGN THAT THEY'RE NOT PAYING ENOUGH. To answer that is our workplace relations minister. Great to have you here. Why is it in your view that wages in this country in particular has been so sluggish over the recent years? It's around the rate of inflation. If you look at the fact that in the 1990s we dismantled our collective bargaining framework, that is certainly our part of it. The other thing we've got to do is look through those unemployment stats and look at the underutilization rates. Those people that have work Who don't have work and would like more work. There is still some capacity in the Labour market. The reserve bank would say we are at maximum employment. People have been talking about that. But at one point do we declare we have maximum employment? The challenge versus the government is to make sure that the people were underutilized have skills to pick up the opportunity that exists in our growing economy and that is what the previous government failed to do. Let's come back to collective bargaining in the unions. How did strong do you want them to be? There at about 17%. What level do you want them to be? That is not what we are targeting. Were not up to figure. But it does show that when people are covered by collective agreements, it helps to drive wages and productivity up. We are a government focused on transforming the economy. We believe in the freedom of association. People should have choice. What I suppose we are trying to do with our changes it's to give unions the opportunity to demonstrate their value two potential members. Have you looked at whether boosting unions boost people's wages? Will they get a boost if they join a union? They are more likely to get a pay raise if they are in a collective bargaining agreement. In places around the world where people are covered by collective agreements, their wages rises much faster. So the purpose of this is to boost union power. To get a better share of the economy. Economy more intrusive. That is what we are trying to achieve. In 1981, if you look at the pie, workers were getting 65% of that share. The average worker would be ahead around $11,000. Does that imply that the people who run businesses in the corporate's, are they greedy? It shows the power of the changes that were made in the 1990s. If you look at the wage gap between us and Australia, over the last 30 years, Australia didn't dismantle their collective bargaining framework. That is part of the story. But we are of the view that if they are not in a strong bargaining position, then are able to make demands. Have the capital owners taken too much? There is no doubt. We need a better balance. You talk about balance, how fair is it for a business, let's say a business making a product sold globally with 25 staff, they lose there fire at will hours. They operate in a global marketplace and lose their flexibility. How fair is it? I don't think so. Operating in a global market means completely to be resilient. They need to be able to work with market forces. If a small change in wages gives them trouble, they're not very resilient. Our plans for the future gives them an opportunity four there businesses to work in that environment. We need businesses to transition into an environment where high skill high wage economy... I think people who own businesses are probably yelling at the TV and are so frustrated. They are trying to employ Kiwis. They will see these changes, and they will see this is unfair and unreasonable. A lot of businesses come and go. Regardless of any changes the government makes. Most startups don't last beyond a couple of years. That is the nature of business. What we as a government have to do is make an environment in which new businesses can develop and new jobs are created. NS things change that new opportunities are available to. I think that is the most important thing. We should have a strong economy that if businesses come and go, there will still be opportunities. Is a fairly union official can walk on into a business unannounced without telling the business owner and handout union material. Is that reasonable? That is what business New Zealand said and they are wrong. I have seen a lot of people doing that. If you legislation, and the current low, there's no such thing as unfettered union access. They will still have to identify themselves to whoever is in charge. They don't need permission. They can bowl on. If there is an induction program, they have to. They need to identify themselves to the employer. I think it is reasonable that if union members want access to their union officials for health and safety reasons or something urgent that is happening in the workplace, and they want advice, the union should be able to get access. But it is not unfettered. Are you asking new employees to make a choice whether they want to join or not? If they don't fill out the form, is it reasonable for the information to be passed on to the union? They have to say yes. What we put in the legislation is that the automatic position is that the information gets passed on. There will be a very clear option to opt out. If they don't want the information passed on. It might get passed on without her choice. If they choose to opt out, you are absolutely right about choice. I believe in freedom of association. If they choose further information not to be passed on, it should be passed on. The main criticism from business, which has seemed to Shane its reaction, if you add up all these changes, it would effectively mean that 15% of the workforce will determine the recognition for everybody. Is that reasonable? That is not true. I have a very good relationship with business New Zealand. But you said you wanted Eunice to be more powerful. I got a very good relationship with business New Zealand. They will be involved in pay talks as well. But I think they've got things wrong on the submission that they've made. I think they're trying to be a bit more muscular for their members. There's nothing about legislation the Texas anywhere near the concept of compulsory unions. On that note, fair pay agreements. Minimum standards of pay for occupation and industries does go a lot further. Can you commit today? Are you going to do that? In the next few weeks, we are able to announce a working group that is going to develop the specific framework and the design of that. I want to be really clear about this, this will not be about the government picking which industries this applies to. This will set up a framework where unions and businesses` is also creating a lot of uncertainty. We will set up a framework where businesses can bargain. Have you talked to New Zealand First? They made you try to change the 90 day hire and fire. I am constantly talking to them. We will have our announcements available within the next few weeks. You haven't got the agreement yet. We will tell you in the future. The negotiations have happened between us. If we have something to announce, we will announce it. Just a couple of questions on immigration. Are we going to see some reforms in immigration laws? Will these changes you are proposing for immigration the next couple of weeks bring down overall numbers coming into this country? We have no target. So what we want to achieve with the changes is to get a better match between the skills and the talented people bring to New Zealand. We need to get that much better. It hasn't been working well. Secondly a more regionalized approach. We know that the pressure of population growth has been too much on Auckland because the previous government failed to invest in the structure. We want to get more people in the regions. I probably had more complaints about the changes in the previous government there any concerns about what they are planning to do. Any changes we make will be made in the context of our broader program that will be introducing the first proposals of that program again in the next few weeks. Regardless, there's a lot of debate when you said it was a hard target. A lot of former leaders talked about turning off the top. You can bid on lowering immigration. We we see a cycle that is lower than is currently being forecast. A lot of people are saying it's still going to be 40,000 extra persons per year. The figures are varying. Will be lower when your framework is in place? What is more important to us is that we get people into the right places. When we talk about numbers, we often talk about population growth on places like Auckland. I am more interested in getting more people into the regions where they are needed. The people who are at middle more hospital are struggling because they can't cope with the population. Are your changes that you will be announcing the next couple of weeks mean that the growth of immigration will be lower. Certainly anticipates the population in Auckland will reduce. Will it be lower in general? You campaigned on it. The expectation from voters is that you are bringing it down. Will it come down? Even if we didn't make any changes, it will come down. But as I say, our focus is on better skills match and stemming migrant exploitation. We made a prediction in opposition that the changes we make will reduce migration. The changes we want to make her focus on getting the immigration working better. To bring this back to wages, ANZ said that it is the supply of labour that is keeping things down. What area we've made a priority is the Labour market test which will determine if there is a real gap that needs to be filled. We will also asked the employers what they are actually offering in terms of pay and a premium. There will be much more greater expectation from employers about what they are offering before they can have access to migrant workers. SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS. WE'RE ON TWITTER ` @NZQandA. YOU CAN EMAIL US AT Q+A@TVNZ.CO.NZ. WE'LL HEAR YOUR VIEWS TOWARDS THE END OF THE HOUR. BUT UP NEXT IS THE PANEL. LET'S INTRODUCE OUR PANEL ` POLITICAL SCIENTIST DR JENNIFER CURTIN FROM AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY; RICHARD PREBBLE, FORMER LABOUR MINISTER, FORMER ACT PARTY LEADER; AND SUE BRADFORD, FORMER GREEN PARTY MP. You are only board of a large company New Zealand, Maine freight, is the business committee being hysterical about these changes? I think they are probably being a bit hysterical. I look at the bill and I just think it's underwhelming. I wonder what he's been doing the last nine years. We've got a bill that is going to say we have to have lunch breaks. Well that's the law already. I suspect the people who are going to the effect that the state employees, and I think it will have very little effect on the private sector. If you're a good employer in the private sector. What about the pay? Let us down the track. They've set up a working group. What is that now, 130 working groups? I suspect there will be an answer coming out of that. The concept is so nebulous. Frankly, until it turns up, I can't worry about it. Sue, do you think people will be happy this isn't going far enough? Unions are unhappy. One of the worst things about it is the refusal to get rid of the 90 day work. In the smaller companies, the employees are more likely to get exploited. That includes migrant workers. They should go the hallway rather than land leave these` so the fair pay has to happen or the unions will get upset. A lot sooner than Richard thinks it will happen. That is for sure. This Bill itself is an opportunity to go forward. It will be interesting to see if the minister will look into wage theft. That is going on for 15 years. Again, this affects migrant workers hugely. Hundreds of thousands in supermarkets and other placeswhere they are expected to stay on and come on early but they don't get paid for it. That is actually a crime. I would like to see the government take that on quickly. Do you think he got it right? Richard thinks it's underwhelming. What you think of the politics of the so far? This represents a recent back to 2008. If you work your way into the bill, there's a few repeals and amendments. But really it's not a big deal. The thing we are conflating here, that we have to remember is that collective bargaining is the critical thing here. This is what enables blanket coverage of all workers with the conditions in the wage increases rather than them requiring to be a union member. This means it may not actually lead to massive amounts of new members for unions, but it does enable unions to common and bargain collectively across. So that individual workers aren't missing out. And that could be a good thing. I think we have to remember that the case for the product the commission, they did find that the share of economic growth is it declining. There really worried about this. They're talking about inclusive growth and now we have strategies in the Labour market that will make sure workers are benefiting. USA businesses are being hysterical, but what you think about capital being taken too much by the corporate? I think there is some validity in it. Hasn't gone too far? The big problem with regard to wages in New Zealand is not the wages, when you look at it. It's the cost of housing that has gone up so great. People cannot afford it and people who by cannot live on their wages. That is causing real trouble. It has struggled employers as well. You need people to be able to work for you in Auckland, but they cannot afford to live here. The government has to solve the housing problem, and that will do more than this bill. This Bill, I think will do very little. His business in a position to pay workers more? The housing crisis affects everyone, including businesses. They are incredibly concerned about the cost of housing. It's out of whack, and you point the finger at the last government and the government before that, but none of them have made any changes. So, do you think businesses should be paying people more? Absolutely. Just look at the billions of the Australian banks are taking. Compare that to what they are paying their workers. Look at kiwifruit orchards expecting people to come and work for minimum wage. What Richard is saying, the housing problem. With the goal of the businesses is their shareholders should be happy. We still have 300,000 people underemployed or unemployed. Employers aren't matching wages to draw people in. Why do we need people from overseas just to become a bus driver or pick fruits? No accommodation provided for fruit pickers. What we do know that there are changes coming. What did you make of that? Dancing around on this since the election, they campaigned on some rhetoric of cutting immigration. Do you buy this? Part of immigration is that the net migration figures also include Kiwis were coming home. And you can cut them. I think there are multiple issues. It's about how many are staying in Auckland and the housing pressures and infrastructure changes that come with that. He mentioned there was a prediction that it will drop by 20,000 to 30,000 because of global factors anyway. So you do wonder if that was a fortuitous figure to pull out of the bag. But it might not drop that much. It looks like it's going to be higher than before. The minister cannot get away with what he said. Before the election, he said there will be opposing immigration. But now he's doing basically nothing. If you asked the previous national party minister, should we match up skills, and they say they will. So he's actually running the previous. It might not be wrong, but it is disingenuous. A lot of New Zealand First supporters are going to be unhappy when they realize immigration hasn't changed. So, it's a tough one, isn't it, because there are a lot of working poor in New Zealand and one factor is immigration. At the same time you don't want immigration to go too far. Where I stand in many union people stand is that actually we've got to get wages and conditions up for all workers whether they are migrant or local. They all deserve the right to be unionized and the ability to be unionized and demand higher wages. As Richard said, it goes back to the 2000's. It was trying to restore what has lost since then and it's not going far enough. They have to stop the massive exploitation of migrant workers everyday. Putting in more Labour inspectors, giving them more powers enabling workers to act more effectively. Why should we be getting bus drivers and truck drivers from overseas? WE'VE PUT THAT INTERVIEW UP ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND OUR WEBSITE TOO. AFTER THE BREAK, WINSTON PETERS HAS LAUNCHED A REVIEW OF OUR BILLION-DOLLAR RACING INDUSTRY. WHENA OWEN LOOKS AT THE PROBLEMS ON AND OFF THE TRACK. IT'S PATHETIC. TIME TO PAY ALL YOUR FEES AND WHATEVER. IT'S A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION. A GOVERNMENT-ORDERED REVIEW OF OUR RACING INDUSTRY IS UNDERWAY. INSIDERS SAY THE BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY IS POORLY RUN AND BARELY REACHING ITS POTENTIAL, AND THEY'RE BETTING ON THE MINISTER IN CHARGE, WINSTON PETERS, TO TURN ITS FORTUNES AROUND. WHENA OWEN HAS THE STORY. 6 IN THE MORNING IN HORSE HEARTLAND NEW ZEALAND, BUT THESE CAMBRIDGE GROOMERS AND JOCKEYS STARTED THEIR WORKING DAY TWO HOURS AGO. THEY ARE AMONGST 40,000 PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND THEY ARE AMONG 40,000 PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND WHO DERIVE THEIR LIVELIHOOD FROM RACING. EVERY MORNING, THEY TAKE THEIR HORSES OUT ON TO THE TRAINING TRACK FOR A WORKOUT. THEIR TRAINEES ARE OUT THERE TOO KEEPING AN EYE ON PERFORMANCE. AMONG THEM IS MURRAY BAKER. HE IS REGARDED AS OUR TOP TRAINER AND A BIT OF A LEGEND. HE IS ALMOST AT THE END OF HIS CAREER BUT FEARS FOR THE INDUSTRY. FANTASTIC INDUSTRY BEING POORLY RUN. I FEEL SAD BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY. THIS IS THEIR CHOSEN CAREER, AND THEY ARE BATTLING TO STAY IN IT, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME TOO TOUGH. HE HAS BEEN IN IT SINCE 1978. IT USED TO BE US AND THE GOLDEN KIWI. YES, IN ITS HEYDAY RACING PULLED THE CROWDS. THIS IS TE AWAMUTU RACECOURSE LAST WEDNESDAY. SATURDAY RACES HAVE NOW GONE AND MIDWEEK DOESN'T ATTRACT TOO MANY PUNTERS TO THE TRACK. WHERE ARE THE PUNTERS? I THINK ALL CUPS THE SAME. I PROBABLY CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. I MEAN, RACING IS JUST NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE. IN MANY AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, RACING USED TO BE THE ONLY ENTERTAINMENT. THERE ARE MASSES OF CHOICES THAT KIWIS CAN MAKE THERE ARE MASSES OF CHOICES THAT KIWIS CAN MAKE ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED. THEY CAN BE ENTERTAINED AT HOME. THAT IS JOHN ALLEN, THE NEW ZEALAND RACING BOARD CEO. THE BOARD WAS SET UP IN 2003 UNDER THE RACING ACT TO ADMINISTER ALL RACING IN NEW ZEALAND ` THAT'S THOROUGHBRED, HARNESS AND GREYHOUND, AND SPORTS WAGERING. IT IS FUNDED FROM BETTING. IT OPERATES THE TAB, TRACKSIDE TELEVISION AND HAS AN OBLIGATION TO THE RACING MINISTER UNDER THE ACT TO REGULATE AND IMPROVE THE RACING INDUSTRY. CAMBRIDGE TRAINER TONY PIKE. IT PROBABLY HAS BEEN UNDERPERFORMING SINCE ITS INCEPTION, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE RACING ACT, AND IT'S JUST, YEAH, THE COSTS OF RUNNING THE INDUSTRY HAS JUST GROWN` CONTINUE TO GROW EVERY YEAR. PUT IT THIS WAY, THE RACING INDUSTRY BOARD, THEY ARE MADE UP OF GOVERNMENT APPOINTEES. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYONE. THEY WILL JUST RUN THEIR OWN SHOW. WINSTON PETERS IS THE NEW RACING MINISTER. WHAT SHOULD BE A $2.5 BILLION INDUSTRY HAS BEEN STAGNANT AT 1.6. HOPEFULLY THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGE ` WINSTON PETERS. SO YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN WINSTON PETERS? I AM. I EVEN VOTED FOR HIM ` BECAUSE OF THE RACING. RACING PEOPLE GOT HIM IN. THEY GOT PETERS IN. HE OWES THEM AN OBLIGATION. OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS I'VE MET PUNTERS AND INDUSTRY PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY VOTED FOR YOU IN THE HOPE YOU WILL RESCUE THE RACING INDUSTRY. CAN YOU DELIVER? YES, I CAN. PETERS HAS JUST APPOINTED AUSTRALIAN RACING BIGSHOT JOHN MASSARA TO REVIEW THE INDUSTRY HERE. MASSARA TURNED THE DECLINING NEW SOUTH WALES RACING SCENE AROUND AND INCREASED THE PRICE MONEY. AND INCREASED THE PRIZE MONEY. ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN, BERNARD SAUNDRY, HAS RECENTLY TAKEN ON THE JOB OF HEADING THE THOROUGHBRED RACING CODE. IS OUR PRIZE MONEY TOO LOW? YES, IT IS. BY TODAY'S STANDARDS, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIA, IT'S TOO LOW IN ORDER TO BE WHAT I CALL COMPETITIVE AND KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE SPORT. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OBSTACLES ARE FOR OWNERS IN NEW ZEALAND? OWNERS, BIG STAKES MONEY. IT'S PATHETIC. TIME TO PAY ALL YOUR FEES AND WHATEVER. IT'S A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION. I THINK STAKE MONEY HAS GOT TO BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR US AT THE MOMENT. That and probably more centralized raising. They need more all weather tracks. This is typical of many provincial racecourses. Here they had two meetings canceled. But would you believe that New Zealand has 52 operating racecourses? There are clubs in this tracks. I think every race club has a role to play. 52 venues. We cannot justify that. There are around 650 TAB outlets in the country. The word on the track is that the TAB may be outsourced to an agency Australia. I think the synergy will cost savings. BUT THE HEAD OF THE RACING BOARD IS CAUTIOUS. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE SORTS OF DECISIONS ARE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO DOWN THOSE PATHS OF OUTSOURCING, THERE IS NO GOING BACK. TAB ` SHOULD WE BE OUTSOURCING THAT TO AUSTRALIA OR ANOTHER OVERSEAS AGENCY? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WERE GOING TO GET. WE are GOING TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER TO THAT AND OUR FAIR SHARE OF THE ACTION. THE NEW ZEALAND RACING BOARD EMPLOYS AROUND 820 STAFF. IN 2006 ITS OPERATING BUDGET WAS $119 MILLION. BUT THAT HAS SHOT UP LAST YEAR TO 204.6 MILLION. CRITICISM HAS BEEN LEVELLED AT ITS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. THIS ISSUE THAT THE TAB IS TOP-HEAVY AND PEOPLE ARE PAID TO DO MUCH HAS BEEN WITH THE TAB FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAS BEEN A TAB. WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE GOT A NICE FORWARD ACTION. THE HEAD OF THE TRAINERS ASSOCIATION SAYS WE NEED A NEW RACING MODEL. LOOK, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU DON'T MIND PAYING A CHIEF EXECUTIVE A HUGE PAY PACKET IF THEY ARE DELIVERING RESULTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE HAD A SUCCESSION OF UNDERPERFORMING CHIEF EXECUTIVES WITHIN THE RACING BOARD, AND THEY HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME EITHER. THE NARRATIVE USED TO BE THAT I WAS BEING PAID SOME VAST SUM OF MONEY, I THINK $900,000 A YEAR OR SOMETHING, AND THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS. THE TRUTH WAS I WAS PAID $650,000. YOU ARE AT THAT AMOUNT? I'M PROBABLY PAID JUST SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT NOW, BECAUSE I THINK IN THE THREE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE, IT MIGHT HAVE GONE UP ABOUT` 660? WELL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YES. THE RACING REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE HANDED TO THE RACING MINISTER IN AUGUST. BEFORE THEN, THE MINISTER HAS SIGNALLED SOMETHING FOR RACING IN NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET. CAN YOU GIVE US ANY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT? WELL THAT'S A BUDGET SECRET. U.S. CORRESPONDENT REBECCA WRIGHT LOOKS AT THE DEMOCRATS LINING UP TO TAKE ON TRUMP IN 2020. WITH THE ECONOMY HUMMING AND SOME STEADY APPROVAL RATINGS, WILL TRUMP BE TOO TOUGH TO BEAT? HE'S LIKE A ONE-MAN CIRCUS. WE'VE JUST GOT TO SIT BACK AND WATCH HIM DO NOTHING. WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED AND JUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE OVER, YOU KNOW. THE NEXT U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MAY SEEM A LONG WAY AWAY, BUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS TURNING ITS MIND TO HOW THEY CAN BEAT TRUMP IN 2020. DESPITE THE CHAOS AND CONTROVERSY OF HIS ADMINISTRATION SO FAR, HE MAY NOT BE EASY TO UPSET. FOR MANY REASONS, THE U.S. ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, WITH NEW JOBS BEING CREATED EVERY MONTH. AND TRUMP'S UNORTHODOX STYLE ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE IS WINNING APPROVAL FROM MANY AMERICAN VOTERS. THIS REPORT FROM OUR U.S. CORRESPONDENT REBECCA WRIGHT. (APPLAUSE, CHEERING) PICTURE-PERFECT PENNSYLVANIA. IT'S ONE OF THE STATES WHICH SWUNG TO PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2016, AND OUT HERE IN ITS SUBURBS AND TOWN SQUARES, THERE'S A BATTLE ON TO TURN IT BLUE AGAIN. ON A RECENT SATURDAY, WE FIND FORMER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BERNIE SANDERS RALLYING. ...IS A VISION WHICH TELLS DONALD TRUMP AND HIS FRIENDS YOU WILL NOT DIVIDE US UP. WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AS ONE PEOPLE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) BUT DIVISIONS REMAIN WITHIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY 18 MONTHS AFTER ITS DEVASTATING LOSS TO DONALD TRUMP. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE AT THE MOMENT IN THIS CYCLE? WELL, WE'RE IN DISARRAY. DO YOU THINK THAT THE PARTY HAS DONE THE SOUL-SEARCHING THAT WAS REQUIRED AFTER 2016? I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MORE. I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND A BETTER MESSAGE. INSTEAD OF JUST BEING AGAINST TRUMP, WE NEED TO BE FOR SOMETHING. THIS TIME AROUND, THERE'S NO PRESUMPTIVE CANDIDATE, SO THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL FIELD IS WIDE OPEN. ACCORDING TO RECENT POLLING, THE FRONT RUNNERS ARE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND INDEPENDENT SENATOR FOR VERMONT BERNIE SANDERS. THAT COULD BE JUST A CASE OF STRONG NAME RECOGNITION, BUT BOTH DO APPEAR TO BE PLOTTING A PATH TO THE PRESIDENCY. IT'S ABOUT REVITALISING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. IT'S ABOUT WORKING PEOPLE STANDING UP AND SAYING LOUDLY AND CLEARLY, 'WE NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESENTS ALL OF US.' IN 2016, SANDERS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT MANY OF HIS PROGRESSIVE IDEAS ARE NOW ASCENDANT. PROGRESSIVISM. TOTALLY. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL WIN. COS THEY'RE LOSING IF THEY HANG ON TO THAT CORPORATE, DEMOCRATIC` TAKING MONEY OUT OF` TAKING ALL THAT MONEY FROM LOBBYISTS AND THE OIL COMPANIES. I WOULD LIKE IF WE WERE A LOT MORE LIKE NEW ZEALAND, FRANKLY. I LIKE THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE AND PRIORITIES ON THINGS LIKE EDUCATION, RATHER THAN MILITARY. AND A NEW GENERATION OF HOPEFULS IS RIDING SANDERS' PROGRESSIVE WAVE. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES LIKE KAMALA HARRIS, A FIRST-TIME SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA AND ALREADY DUBBED A RISING STAR. AND KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND OF NEW YORK WHO'S BUILDING HER BRAND AROUND THE ME TOO AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENTS. THEN THERE'S CORY BOOKER, A YOUNG, BLACK CRUSADING SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY APPEALING TO YOUNGER VOTERS. HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES POLITICALLY. HE'S VERY MUCH INVOLVED AND HE MASTERFULLY USES SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL IN HIS CAMPAIGNS. HE'S OUT THERE CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LIKE ABOUT KAMALA AND CORY? BASICALLY JUST THEIR PROGRESSIVE VIEWS IN GENERAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK THEY COULD RESTORE THE AMERICA THAT WE ONCE KNEW AND NOT THIS AMERICA THAT'S BEEN TURNED ON ITS HEAD. THEY'RE ALL BUILDING THEIR PLATFORMS AND POLICIES LIKE A JOB GUARANTEE FOR EVERY AMERICAN, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE AND FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION, MOVING THE PARTY WELL LEFT OF WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR A GENERATION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) ELIZABETH WARREN COULD BE THE NEW CENTRE OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. THE SENATOR FOR MASSACHUSETTS IS A CHAMPION OF WORKING FAMILIES AND THE MIDDLE CLASS, SOMEONE WHO APPEALS TO BOTH THE PROGRESSIVE AND MAINSTREAM FACTIONS AND WHO COULD BE A UNIFYING CANDIDATE. I'M A BIG ELIZABETH WARREN FAN. I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT SHE EVEN WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT, SO THAT'S ALSO A PROBLEM. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN IN 2020 AND KIND OF CLEAN UP THE MESS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A STRONG WOMAN LEADING. ELIZABETH WARREN. MICHELLE OBAMA. NOT GONNA HAPPEN, BUT... (CHUCKLES) AND, YES, THERE'S STILL A STRONG DESIRE AROUND DEMOCRATS TO ELECT AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT. BUT WHOEVER EVENTUALLY CAPTURES THE NOMINATION WILL HAVE A TOUGH JOB TAKING ON THIS PRESIDENT. WE HAVE A SAYING IN THIS COUNTRY, 'DEMOCRATS FALL IN LOVE; 'REPUBLICANS FALL IN LINE.' I THINK WE KIND OF HAVE TO MARRY THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER. THOSE PEOPLE THAT WENT WITH HIM IN 2016, ARE THE DEMOCRATS DOING ENOUGH TO BRING THEM BACK? AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, I WOULD SAY NO. I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED. I THINK THE PARTY LEADERSHIP HASN'T CAUGHT ON TO WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN HERE. HE'S LIKE A ONE-MAN CIRCUS. WE'VE GOT TO SIT BACK AND WATCH HIM DO NOTHING. WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED, STAY ON MESSAGE AND JUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE OVER, BASICALLY. THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO. AND TOGETHER, WE ARE TAKING BACK OUR GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, RETURNING POWER TO EVERYDAY AMERICAN PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE GREATEST OF ALL PEOPLE. BUT THAT'S THE MISTAKE THE DEMOCRATS MADE DURING THE LAST CAMPAIGN, UNDERESTIMATING TRUMP AND WAITING FOR HIM TO SELF-COMBUST. IT'S A PERILOUS PATH FOR THE PARTY TO TREAD AGAIN, PARTICULARLY NOW HE'S PRESIDENT. WELL, BEATING TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. DESPITE THE CHAOS IN WASHINGTON AND THE CREDIBILITY CRISIS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, UNSEATING AN INCUMBENT IS NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT, AND RIGHT NOW THE U.S. ECONOMY IS HUMMING, UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT AN 18-YEAR LOW AND THE PRESIDENT SEEMS TO HAVE A SHOT AT SOLVING THE NORTH KOREAN CRISIS. NORTH KOREA'S A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. AND 77% OF AMERICANS APPROVE OF TRUMP'S MEETING WITH KIM JONG-UN. AND AFTER SUFFERING FROM HISTORIC LOW-APPROVAL RATINGS EARLY IN HIS PRESIDENCY, TRUMP'S APPROVALS ARE INCHING UP. NOW 40%. MANY OF SANDERS' SUPPORTERS THOUGHT HE WAS THE RIGHT PERSON TO BEAT TRUMP IN 2016, SO WE THOUGHT WE'D ASK THE MAN HIMSELF WHAT HE THINKS. BERNIE, HOW DO YOU BEAT TRUMP? HOW DO YOU BEAT TRUMP? OK. HOW DO YOU BEAT HIM? THANK YOU. FAIR ENOUGH ` IT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION. BUT ONE THE ULTIMATE CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TO CONFRONT. Yes, it's a difficult question indeed. Jennifer, do the Democrats have to swing far left to win this. I'm not sure it was a representative sample that we saw on TV right now. A lot of the young people that seemed keen on Elizabeth Warren or other candidates, they talk about this stuff, they talk about needing to push on gun control, but to election day, they don't always turn out. We also soil with the Trump election that African-American` there is not high by his standards, his approval rating. Yes, it's actually the lowest even when economies looking good. His demographic was an educated white male voters, and the numbers of those way 2020 will have dropped by 2%. The demographics were more likely to support Democrats are going up. But they have to go out to vote. They do. What we are seeing is that America is alienating its allies and doing whatever it wants. Sure. But two years outit's too far to predict. All sorts of things can happen. If you look at the economic cycle, the chances of the economy turning down even the tax cuts? I think that will work against them. Both the congressional districts and the Senate races are rigged in favor of the Republicans. 31 states are Republican. They each get two senators. In the Senate race, I think the Republicans might actually pick up a couple of seats because there are a whole lot of Democrat Senators running who actually come from Republican states. But then you have the congressional, and that is rigged as well. They rigged the boundaries. But having said that, I think that the Democrats are going to win the congressional area, and that will make life much more difficult for Trump in the next two years. But I am basing this on a number of things and one of them is betting. They have this betting site in America, and it says 2-1 that the Democrats are going to win the House of Representatives. In two years time, trumps task might be a bit harder. What you make of the candidates? That will be crucial. Do they need a more radical candidate? They can certainly afford to picksomeone more radical than Hillary Clinton. It's interesting about Elizabeth Warren. You've got Democrats voting for the new CIA director. They Sully out their own party. They worry about their votes, because they come from Republican states. Even two or three of them is enough to keep throwing balls. So I do hope Richard is right about the congressional elections. One of the things it gives me heart about the Democrats at the next election is the huge amount of grassroots organizing and mobilizing since Trump was elected. It was just impressive. From someone who comes from my background, very small communities in America are working on issues like black lives in women's lives. That kind of mobilization, I think, could lead to mobilization for the vote. How will Bernie stand up on the same stage with Trump? I think a strong woman or man or both... I would love to see a woman there. But whoever becomes a candidate for the Democrats, I reckon they have to go all out on Trump. The Democrats have a greater ability to turn our people we've never heard of. Like Clinton and Obama. The next candidate could be somebody who was never mentioned there. What about the Messiah complex that they think they're going to find that person? There's about 20 in the list at the moment. We won't really know until midway through next year what's really going to happen. I do think the economy is at risk, and this could play to the Democrats hands because of the Iran deal. So oil prices are really going up. Most are starting to say that this is just going to soak up the tax cuts and some. So average Americans might not be better off. And that could be a useful point go into the midterms for Democrats. There's only 48 seats in the midterms for the House of Representatives that are competitive. Republicans cannot really afford to lose the ones they have. AFTER THE BREAK, WE'LL LOOK BACK IN POLITICAL HISTORY TO A LAW CHANGE THAT HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON OUR WORKPLACES. SUE AND RICHARD WILL REMEMBER THIS WELL ` 1991 MARKED ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC SHIFTS IN EMPLOYMENT LAW THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN. THE BOLGER-LED NATIONAL GOVERNMENT PUT AN END TO COMPULSORY UNIONISM UNDER THE CONTROVERSIAL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS ACT. IN 1985 UNION MEMBERSHIP WAS AT A HIGH OF AROUND 683,000. WITHIN A DECADE, THAT HAD MORE THAN HALVED, AND NEW ZEALAND UNIONS HAVE NEVER REALLY RECOVERED. IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE BILL PASSING, THERE WERE PROTESTS AND STRIKE ACTION ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS REPORT FOR 1 NETWORK NEWS. I THINK THE BLOODY GOVERNMENT STINKS. THEY SHOULD BE VOTED OUT. THE WHOLE BLOODY COUNTRY SHOULD GO OUT AND SHOW WHAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND MEAN. COS I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE MONEY, I DON'T WANT TO BECOME SLAVE LABOUR, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE SHIT. THE ANGER'S APPARENT FROM ONE END OF THE COUNTRY TO THE OTHER. ALL CHANT: TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT. STOP THE BILL. IT'S NOT TOO LATE! WE WORKED HARD DAY IN, DAY OUT, AND FOR THIS SORT OF CARRY-ON FROM THE GOVERNMENT, IT'S A LOAD OF RUBBISH. ON APRIL 18TH, WORKERS WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO TAKE A GENERAL STRIKE. THE NEW EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS BILL IS UNWORKABLE, AND, FRANKLY, AS WORKERS, WE THINK IT STINKS. THAT SORT OF FEELING AND THE HUGE RALLIES NATIONWIDE AGAINST THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS BILL LEAVES LABOUR MINISTER BILL BIRCH UNIMPRESSED. HE SAYS SELECT COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE THE CORRECT FORUM FOR COMPLAINTS, AND HE CLAIMS CONCERNS ABOUT LACK OF PROTECTION FOR WORKERS ARE UNFOUNDED. THERE WILL BE MINIMUM STANDARDS, STATUTORY PROTECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE GET THREE WEEKS' HOLIDAY, 11 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS A YEAR, MINIMUM WAGES, EQUAL PAY, PARENTAL LEAVE. HOWEVER, UNIONISTS WARN THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HEED THE WORKERS. THEY'LL LISTEN WHEN THE TIDE OF PUBLIC OPINION JUST DECIDES THAT THEY EITHER CHANGE, LIKE MAGGIE THATCHER DID ABOUT THE POLL TAX, OR THEY'LL BE SWEPT AWAY LIKE SHE WAS. RIGHT NOW, SHIPPING AROUND THE COUNTRY STANDS PARALYSED BY INDUSTRIAL ACTION. SEAFARERS HAVE WALKED OFF THE JOB INDEFINITELY. THEY CITE THE PROPOSED BILL AS THE REASON FOR THE BREAKDOWN IN THEIR AWARD TALKS. WORKERS SAY THEY WON'T TAKE THE BILL SITTING DOWN. # STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS. # That is a bit of a blast from the past. Let's get some hits and misses from the panel. My miss would be the fact that all the charter schools now have given up and said that they will become state schools. Why the government is making war on 1300 children mainly Pacific Island and Maori that were doing so well in charter schools and are doing it so badly in our state schools, I regard that is a must. And a hit? Let's give want to Trump - the fact that he is having a meeting with North Korea and I hope it goes well. My head is the Prime Minister last week saying people who are homeless or in deep property this year, we should try a little kindness. That is a change from our work and income has been working. Will it make a difference? It could be if people are not left to sleep in their cars. It's great to see the Prime Minister taking the lead and I hope the department and her ministers follow. You want to see that happening quickly don't you? At least Ardern is taking the lead. My head is the announcement of funding for domestic violence services the government did some work about legislative change but we really need more funding for victims. My miss is the opposition around the light rail initiative drawing a line in the sand and saying we're gonna stop building it even if we have started is unfortunate. Getting bipartisanship on these big issues, you would think we had figured out a way to bring people together. We would expect a good proportional representational system, at least theoretically to be bringing parties together. But that has not seem to be happening. We have still got adversarial politics going on. I do think there is a case to be made for fixed four year terms. Three years is too short for big projects. I went to school on a tram up Dominion Road. If anyone thinks trams up Dominion Road are going to solve Auckland transport problems, they are dreaming. MARAE IS NEXT. REMEMBER, Q+A REPEATS TONIGHT JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT, IF YOU'RE STILL UP. IT'S BUDGET DAY ON THURSDAY, SO WE'LL HAVE FINANCE MINISTER GRANT ROBERTSON LIVE ON THE PROGRAMME NEXT WEEK. I'll ALSO BE LIVE AT 2PM WITH ON TVNZ1 WITH A BUDGET SPECIAL. THANKS FOR WATCHING AND THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, MUM. THOSE WERE THE QUESTIONS AND THOSE WERE THE ANSWERS, THAT'S Q+A. SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY MORNING AT 9. CAPTIONS BY GLENNA CASALME AND JAMES BROWN CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. 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