Ryan Bridge: Have we lost the plot on Health and Safety rules?

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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8d ago 1:51

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Brooke van Velden's anti-health and safety crusade's taken a rather bizarre twist - it's the plot twist nobody saw coming.

She's consulting the public on safe activities kids are allowed to do on farms, like watering plants and collecting chicken eggs.

It's a bit of an odd strategy, but the strategy seems to be that there's a potential problem with the law.

Anyone under 15 is technically not allowed to do work on a working farm. You could get fined $50,000.

But nobody's been done for letting little Johnny pick up eggs.

So, it's a potential problem, but not an actual problem.

The Minister's strategy, surely, is to point out how ridiculous the law is in the first place.

But her response sounds a bit off for a Minister who says we need to get away from over regulation and consultation and nonsense and just let Kiwis get on with their lives.

She is quoted as saying:

“We’ll be consulting with farmers and the agriculture sector on the safety thresholds for light chores children can do on farms... while ensuring safety is not compromised.”

It does a bit gobbledegook. It sounds a bit unnecessary. It sounds a bit odd.

If there's a problem, then why not just change it? Why consult up the wazoo through till September, then waste time and money, no official advice, and blah blah blah.

If it's a problem, then make it go away. And quickly.

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