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Author Topic: What would you tell the Government?  (Read 5610 times)

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Offline Wal

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What would you tell the Government?
« on: December 18, 2012, 02:10:34 PM »
Hi everyone.  We've all been having a go at various issues so how about we tell the Government. Tell us what you want to tell them and we'll put it in a readable format and get it to all politicians.

For example.  Having a happy industry would increase productivity and employment opportunities. Why not work with the industry to force the PGD Board to operate in an effective efficient manner.

Just a thought to throw out there. Anyone got any ideas? 

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/politics/76/what-would-you-tell-the-government/1326/

Offline Wal

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2012, 02:53:24 PM »
This may help put you in the mood!!

The Minister of Building and Construction recently said this:

"I can share that when I first came into the Building and Construction portfolio, I would regularly hear complaints about the Board when I visited worksites. Since the appointment of a new Board Chair and Chief Executive, these complaints have largely fallen away, which I interpret as a general improvement in the standing of the Board in the eyes of the profession and the fact that legacy issues are being successfully dealt with. I acknowledge a small proportion of the sector continues to express dissatisfaction."

My question for the Government is "Why do Ministers, in the face of mounting evidence of incompetence, continue to support people who are failing to get the support of the industry that they regulate?"

 

Offline Badger

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2012, 05:15:01 PM »
I would ask for a clean slate with open and transparent dealings from now on.......after of course they have tackled all the bullshit that has happened, addressed it, fixed it, owned up to it......... a good way would be to have a truly independent and impartial qualified person go over it all and give an honest answer......that's what I'll be asking Santa for....and I got as much of a chance of it happening as Father Christmas turning up in person and hand delivering it........

Look at Judith Collins....employ's a Canadian High Court Judge at the cost of over $400 000 to the public, to review David Bains case (a case I really have no opinion on, haven't read much about the facts).......and when it comes back full of stuff she doesn't want...... she calls it a flawed report and goes and spends even more.....until she gets the answer she wants......So I won't hold my breath. Shame really.

Have a great Christmas and new year guys, perhaps the world will end on the 21st and save us doing all this shit for our re licensing......LOL, be happy people ... ;)
You can't choose who you are.....but you are the sum of your choices.......

Offline bowtieboy

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2012, 09:48:43 PM »
wal, i would ask the goverment why cant we the qualified trades men form a co op and manage our industry ourselves.we dont need high paid out of touch white collard useless people dictating our industry. its a gross waste of our money, the publics money and goverment money....
i guess what i am asking for is for the government to use common sense!!! oh god@!!!! what a joke that will never happen!!!!!!! :'(
I believe in doing a job once and right. !

Offline integrated

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2012, 10:06:21 PM »
I would ask why we have such disparity among associated trade costs and relicensing requirements across the board in comparison to others...

why is there so much imposed on plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers at such cost in comparison to the likes of electrical workers? who only undertake legislative requirement changes and first aid? (bi-annually at that?)

where is the mandate for this requirement? ie where are all the stats that show the public's health and safety has been jeopardized due to all the illness and death?!? therefore making this implementation necessary?!      IMHO if they dont have the stats and case to back it up how do they justify it as necessary to TPTB?

why is public person prosecution not publicly funded?

what are they going to do to close the non permitted work loophole that exists for residential renovation and alteration where a whole sub-industry of underground illegal works exist due the the lack of requirement of a paper/permit system?

theres a few off the top of my head...          will add others as I think of them...

Offline Badger

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2012, 08:06:56 AM »
Intergrated...think on this....

The electrical system is run by electrical companies....the more electricians the more electricity systems can be installed and maintained....AND ELECTRICITY SOLD. They want as many sparkies out their..... it is good for their core business.....selling electrical goods and power.

Where as the plumbing system has a huge influence by people who own plumbing businesses, they get to empower(and persecute) their competition, and the competition of their mates, even in other far off areas from their own...because they have a network, an old boys net work (perhaps this is why the NZ Law Commission warns against having industry groups on the Board, but is ignored).

Having as many plumbers out there as possible is not good for their core business, nor good business for their members of their group....that's why we have the craftsman status....brought in according to the Board and certain industry groups...because too many plumbers were going out of business because of the lack of office skills....bollox...more like you won't be able to legally run a business with out this bullshit ticket, then they get to decide who gets the ticket.....my old boss was given his after one oral exam....they care about putting people out of business, like f**** they do....I lost my business because of letter sent to my customers telling lies and have waited 6 months for a formal apology, even though their own QC said they were in the wrong....

follow the money mate this day and age......

Offline Jaxcat

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2013, 06:18:14 PM »
I would ask:
1.  Are the overseas trades people being bought into Chch having to go through the same licensing regime as NZ resident plumbers and gasfitters?
2.  Why the Minister is protecting a Board that have crossed the line on so many occasions?
3.  If the government is looking at alternative funding for the PGDB i.e. giving some of the gas levy to them so they can use it to prosecute unlicensed people undertaking plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying?
4.  Has the Minister till got faith in Mr Bickers given the recent Ombudsman Report, the loss of Charitable Status and the Board's  bullheadedness in taking this decision to the high court, along with the RRC decision, the future RRC decisions and the comments by OAG in relation to the "offences fee" which is more akin to a levy?
5.  Why are they so much in favour of cross seeding on Board's when it clearly is not working well?
6.  What was Parliament's intentions when it required 2 plumbers, 2 gasfitters, 2 drainlayers, 2 people to advocate for consumers and 2 others to make up the PGDB?
7.  Do they really understand that we are being forced to attend mundane courses which do not, in the majority of cases, add to the knowledge base of the industry in order to buy points?  Really understand?
8.   Do they think the Output agreement will stack up now?

Have you learned lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you?  Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed the passage with you?  (Walt Whitman 1819-1891)  American Poet

Offline Watchdog

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2013, 06:56:21 AM »
I would thell them that if they don't get their shit together the industry will end up in such a state it won't be in a position to recover and the heath and safety of the public really will be at risk. 

Offline robbo

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2013, 01:53:32 PM »
hi guys/watchdog, they will not understand that, they can see nothing wrong with what they are doing, read my very early ~Plumbing Police~ post,cheers

Offline craftsman

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2013, 07:48:37 PM »
hi guys, just wondering what the $$$$ limit is to take a claim for payment at the small claims court.
have one coming i feel,
charged $65hr,plus tax...... work all good, no probs with workmanship so hard for me to take to small claims i know.
maybe i could claim that there is a dispute over something small like toilet not filling high enough.
Now im being told only worth paying 30hr. makes me feel like ripping it all out.
What do you guys do with this situation?


Offline robbo

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2013, 09:11:59 PM »
hi guys/craftsman, you have a claim, `they won`t pay your account`it`s the dissputes tribunal. last time i was there it was $30/$50 to file the claim they take cases up to about $5000 i believe, cheers

Offline craftsman

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2013, 10:45:33 PM »
thanks Robbo, since found out disputes tribunal  deals up to $15k , but as i understand failure to pay or refusal to pay is not a dispute.
anyhow it all cost however it goes in some way, money or stress.
cheers

Offline Watchdog

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2013, 06:31:19 AM »
Send them a letter asking if there is a dispute as no payment has been received. In the letter write that a non responce and non payment will be taken that there is an issue with the job.

Then put it in to the disputes tribunal stating that there must be an issue with the job as there has been no responce form the people.

Otherwise telephone them at 4 o'clock every morning for a week asking for your money telling them you can't sleep because of the stress of not being paid.

Offline robbo

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2013, 09:15:37 AM »
hi guys/craftsman, (but as i understand failure to pay or refusal to pay is not a dispute) they are dissputing your hrly rate,go for it you will win,cheers

Offline craftsman

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Re: What would you tell the Government?
« Reply #14 on: February 05, 2013, 10:20:31 AM »
thanks so much guys for the encouraging words, this morning after hard words i managed to get most with the client thinking that is the end of it.
i will go for the remaining balance.
maybe we could have a bad debters forum on this site to help us who are owed and to warn other tradies .
maybe there is something here already.


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