The Regulatory Standards Bill is a government proposal to improve New Zealand’s regulatory management system. It aims to reduce ineffective and unnecessary regulation by embedding high-level principles into law and creating mechanisms to handle complaints about regulatory quality.
The Taxpayers’ Union supports including principles focused on rights, liberties, and good law-making to build a culture of compliance. They recommend amending Part 4 of the Legislation Act 2019 rather than creating a new act, arguing that updating existing law is simpler and more effective.
We are skeptical about the proposed appeal Board, noting Parliament could ignore its findings. They also oppose giving the Ministry’s Chief Executive information-gathering powers over private-sector parties, warning this could become a “fishing expedition.”
Immediate post-implementation reviews are crucial, especially for emergency regulations, to quickly correct mistakes. The Union stresses this ensures rushed regulations don’t create lasting problems.
Poor regulation has real economic costs, with New Zealand’s GDP per capita falling 4.8% over two years, linked to weak regulatory standards. Current impact statements often focus narrowly on single policies and miss alternatives.
By codifying principles and requiring Ministerial certification, the Bill creates moral pressure for thorough analysis. It also forces Ministers to publicly justify any deviations and helps update outdated legislation, supporting investment and productivity.
