Politics Live Blog: October 2 - 8
Smashing the 'red tape state'
ACT says it will "smash the red tape state to fix the economy".
“ACT will fundamentally change the culture of lawmaking, meaning New Zealanders spend less time complying with edicts from Wellington," party leader David Seymour said in a policy announcement on Thursday.
A new red tape reduction minister would start examining red tape in the finance, primary industries, health, and ECE sectors in the first 100 days of a new government.
Under the policy, a ministry of regulation will dig into all regulations in a sector being investigated over six months, hearing from the people affected by the rules, and testing them against the key principles of the Regulatory Standards Act.
A report would then be published, identifying regulations that could be cut. If the minister in charge of the relevant portfolio didn't want a regulation removed, they would have to explain to Parliament why they wanted it kept.
"Politicians are obsessed with the idea that our country can be saved if only they pass this law or that law. The results are dire," Seymour said.
“Too often, regulation is just populism, as the oil and gas industry, landlords, and countless other sectors have found.
"Or the costs of a law outweigh the benefits, like National’s restriction on pseudoephedrine for New Zealanders with a cold or flu.
"Or the costs and benefits of a law aren’t shared fairly, like the CCCFA reforms which cost banks and their customers millions of dollars because a few people were being ripped off."
"Or the costs of a law outweigh the benefits, like National’s restriction on pseudoephedrine for New Zealanders with a cold or flu.
"Or the costs and benefits of a law aren’t shared fairly, like the CCCFA reforms which cost banks and their customers millions of dollars because a few people were being ripped off."