Come on Prime Minister Bennett - make equal pay a reality!

Paula Bennett may only have a day in the role of Acting Prime Minister, but the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is urging her to do something good for all Kiwi women.

Ms Bennett is fifth-ranked in the National Cabinet, and became Acting PM today because John Key, Bill English, Steven Joyce and Gerry Brownlee are all overseas.

She told media she plans to approach the job with "a steady hand", but has received a number of suggestions about what she should do while the top four are out of the country.

PSA National Secretary Erin Polaczuk has an idea.

"We’d like to see a female PM - however short her tenure - do something concrete about equal pay," Ms Polaczuk says.

"Cabinet has had the Joint Working Group’s recommendations since May, and women across the country are waiting for them to be adopted.

"Business groups, unions and representatives of the Crown worked hard to agree on a set of principles that will help workers, businesses and the economy.

"Cabinet has been dragging its feet on this issue, so what better time for a female Acting Prime Minister to show leadership?

"New Zealand was once a leader in women’s rights, being the first state to give women the vote.

"By adopting the Joint Working Group’s recommendations in full, we would regain our mana internationally as a country that takes women’s rights seriously.

"Come on, Prime Minister Bennett - make the most of this chance."

ENDS

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