He was cautioned in regards to his role by the Minister of Labour Jim Bolger on his future as an Industrial Conciliator in the event he lose the election.
Bolger's warning was made in retaliation to Gerbic's criticisms of the government's response to an industrial dispute holding up construction of the Mangere Bridge.
In February 1982 Rowling gave a speech at a Labour regional conference in Timaru where he suggested Labour should remove its formal links with trade unions, highlighting the party's public perception of being too closely linked with unions and a large demographic shift in the party membership away from the working class and towards middle-class liberals.
Anderton publicly disagreed with Gerbic stating that the SUP had no influence in the Labour Party and that "The entire membership of the SUP could be written on the back of a postage stamp.
"[12] At Labour's annual conference in May 1982 Gerbic used most of his speaking time to attack Anderton for publicly disagreeing with him over the SUP rather than advocating for the policy proposal to remove affiliates.
[14] He had a portfolio shift in 1983 when David Lange replaced Rowling as leader, being instead appointed as spokesperson for industrial conciliation and accident compensation.
[1] After leaving parliament Gerbic found himself centred in a political scandal when in September 1992 rebel National MP Gilbert Myles accused him of operating a graft while a minister.
"[2] In the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gerbic was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (civil division), for public services.