By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor
The Government has spent $150,000 sending 80,000 businesses a "pop-up" fridge magnet and a leaflet promoting the Employment Relations Bill.
The Opposition attacked the spending as a frivolous waste of taxpayer money to promote the controversial law.
"You've seen the bill; now get the magnet," mocked National's industrial relations spokesman, Max Bradford.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark said the $150,000 cost compared favourably with some campaigns undertaken by the previous National-led Government.
The money had come out of funds set aside for Government communications.
The leaflet and magnet are the latest moves in the Government's "charm offensive" to convince business of the merits of the bill.
A spokesman for National leader Jenny Shipley said the Opposition did not object to the cost as much as to the waste.
"It does not seem to us to be a good use of communications money. I can tell you we never sent out a fridge magnet."
The bill, blamed in part for a sharp slide in business confidence, was reported back to Parliament on Tuesday and will be passed under urgency next week.
It comes into effect on October 2.
The mailout, generated in Helen Clark's office, advises businesses to check the Government website on the bill, urging: "Lets [sic] stick to the facts."
Businesses are invited to write to Labour Minister Margaret Wilson or the Prime Minister.
Mr Bradford said he had written to the Auditor-General asking whether the publication fitted within Audit Office guidelines for Government advertising.
The pamphlet outlines changes to some of the so-called lightning-rod issues that were opposed by business.
It claims the bill "has taken on board the pragmatic voices of both employers and unions," and that the Government is "committed to encouraging a more favourable business environment for your future."
But Mr Bradford said the Government's relations with business were frosty.
"A silly fridge magnet won't thaw them out."
It was a sure sign of desperation, he said.
That desperation was not evident in the House yesterday, where Government speakers, including Ms Wilson, said they would relish National's promise to campaign on repealing the bill at the 2002 election.
The pamphlet and magnet were part of a campaign to directly inform small and medium-sized businesses, she said. They were necessary to counter misinformation and scaremongering by National and Act.
"Employers need to know how to access objective information," said Ms Wilson. "The leaflet and magnet tell them how to do that."
The magnet advertises the cabinet's official homepage, which contains links to ministers' websites, recent information, policy papers, the Budget and press releases.
The section on the bill includes an overview, questions and answers on key aspects, a copy of the legislation and a form to complete for answers from Ms Wilson on issues not covered on the site.
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