New watchdog can review current laws upon complaints or its own initiative
David Seymour, regulation minister, has welcomed the new Regulatory Standards Bill – which aims to boost New Zealand’s productivity and ensure a transparent regulatory system – and called its recent passage into law a ‘historic moment for Kiwis’ rights.’
“Bad regulations have real consequences for real people,” Seymour said in a news release from the government. “People work hard to earn their livelihood. Now there is scrutiny for people who ruin it with bad regulations.”
According to the government’s news release, the bill intends to:
In the news release, Seymour explained that the Regulatory Standards Bill aims to help voters understand the significant and potentially devastating costs of regulating their use and exchange of property.
Seymour said the new legislation thus complements three other laws striving for transparency and seeking to protect voters’ rights by helping them see:
“Politicians will no longer be able to hide lazy thinking that piles regulatory costs on Kiwis,” Seymour said. “The high cost of regulation will be there for all to see, for each and every law. Over time, political pressure will reduce those costs.”
Seymour said that the legislation seeks to hold regulators accountable through a mechanism for recourse and keep evidence-based policy front and centre, where lawmakers cannot ignore it. He added that the bill brings members of the public around the Cabinet table.
“They will be able to see how politicians make decisions, based on whose advice,” Seymour said. “If people don’t like what they see, they can have their say at the voting booth.”
According to the government’s news release, the bill intends to create a Regulatory Standards Board, which can independently consider the consistency of current and future legislation.
“A strong watchdog – the Regulatory Standards Board – will see to it that the costs are made clear,” Seymour said.
Seymour explained that the new board can review existing laws in response to complaints or on its own initiative, as well as review the quality of consistency accountability statements, similar to the current regulatory impact statements, to ensure the public is informed.
Seymour added that the new watchdog will publish cost assessments to help the public form their own opinions.
