Government ministers have received a reminder about the "separation of powers". 

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden has been criticised for claiming Employment Relations Authority members believed “money grows on trees”. 

She's told our newsroom Attorney-General Judith Collins has discussed the matter with her. 

National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking Collins has reminded ministers they can't openly criticise the judiciary. 

He says the separation of powers is important in a strong western democracy like ours. 

Labour’s Ginny Andersen says the problem is that van Velden seems to have appointed people and expected them to make different decisions. 

She says her comments demonstrate that they’ve been appointed on the basis that they’ll make certain decisions as opposed to being independent. 

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