An OECD report shows why Seymour is intent on shredding red tape
Our daily monitor of ministerial machinations and Beehive braying has been on the blink for the past week, alas. No, not a technical problem. Rather, a matter of ill-health.
Today we are catching up and herewith record the headlines posted on the government’s official website since we last buzzed on July 4.
There’s a strong foreign thrust – the extension of our contribution to the US-led coalition working to uphold maritime security in the Red Sea, more sanctions as part of the Government’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, a further $16 million of support for Ukraine…
And we can check on ministerial travel plans. Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to the Republic of Korea and Japan next week.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has been in Indonesia, for the signing of new export arrangements to boost two-way Indonesia-New Zealand trade.
And Resources Minister Shane Jones has been in Australia to meet mining sector operators and investors (to signal New Zealand is once again open for business and willing to dig, dig, dig…)
Regulatory reform has been high on the agenda, too.
Regulation Minister David Seymour has bandied something called the OECD Product Market Regulation Indicators (PMRI) to explain his deregulatoy urges.
The OECD PMRI are generated from a survey that runs every five years (since 1998) and focuses on regulatory barriers. The survey, of about 1000 questions, assesses the degree to which policies and regulation promote or inhibit competition in product markets.
A link to the report can be found here.
If you don’t look for yourself, you can listen to Seymour:
“This shocker result should end any and all doubt that the Government must go to war on red tape and regulation.
“The quality of regulation in New Zealand is in freefall. From being ranked 2nd in 1998, we are now 20th in this year’s survey. It’s no coincidence that New Zealand experienced strong productivity growth in the 1990s but has fallen behind since.
“Areas that are found to be particularly overregulated include barriers to foreign direct investment, acquiring licenses and permits, and administrative and regulatory burden – where we rank last in the OECD.”
Putting this into action, the Government is taking action to reduce expenditure on road cones and temporary traffic management, pressing on with requiring building consent authorities to use remote inspections as the default approach to making it easier and cheaper to build a home, aligning the Clean Car Importer Standard with Australia, appointing an independent expert advisory panel to review the Public Works Act to make it easier to build infrastructure, and so on.
In the health domain, Pharmac is opening consultation on new cancer medicines and the National Bowel Screening Programme has reached a significant milestone, with two million home bowel screening kits distributed across the country.
The big announcement in education is the official opening of the application process to set up charter schools.
And in local government, it is the news that Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has concluded the Future for Local Government Review and confirmed that the Coalition Government will …
Drum roll, please.
It will not be responding to the review’s recommendations.
This strikes a blow for the notion that no group of citizens should enjoy electoral privileges denied to others on grounds of ethnicity.
But will this be challenged by the Waitangi Tribunal?
And we can check on ministerial travel plans. Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to the Republic of Korea and Japan next week.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has been in Indonesia, for the signing of new export arrangements to boost two-way Indonesia-New Zealand trade.
And Resources Minister Shane Jones has been in Australia to meet mining sector operators and investors (to signal New Zealand is once again open for business and willing to dig, dig, dig…)
Regulatory reform has been high on the agenda, too.
Regulation Minister David Seymour has bandied something called the OECD Product Market Regulation Indicators (PMRI) to explain his deregulatoy urges.
The OECD PMRI are generated from a survey that runs every five years (since 1998) and focuses on regulatory barriers. The survey, of about 1000 questions, assesses the degree to which policies and regulation promote or inhibit competition in product markets.
A link to the report can be found here.
If you don’t look for yourself, you can listen to Seymour:
“This shocker result should end any and all doubt that the Government must go to war on red tape and regulation.
“The quality of regulation in New Zealand is in freefall. From being ranked 2nd in 1998, we are now 20th in this year’s survey. It’s no coincidence that New Zealand experienced strong productivity growth in the 1990s but has fallen behind since.
“Areas that are found to be particularly overregulated include barriers to foreign direct investment, acquiring licenses and permits, and administrative and regulatory burden – where we rank last in the OECD.”
Putting this into action, the Government is taking action to reduce expenditure on road cones and temporary traffic management, pressing on with requiring building consent authorities to use remote inspections as the default approach to making it easier and cheaper to build a home, aligning the Clean Car Importer Standard with Australia, appointing an independent expert advisory panel to review the Public Works Act to make it easier to build infrastructure, and so on.
In the health domain, Pharmac is opening consultation on new cancer medicines and the National Bowel Screening Programme has reached a significant milestone, with two million home bowel screening kits distributed across the country.
The big announcement in education is the official opening of the application process to set up charter schools.
And in local government, it is the news that Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has concluded the Future for Local Government Review and confirmed that the Coalition Government will …
Drum roll, please.
It will not be responding to the review’s recommendations.
This strikes a blow for the notion that no group of citizens should enjoy electoral privileges denied to others on grounds of ethnicity.
But will this be challenged by the Waitangi Tribunal?
Latest from the Beehive
12 JULY 2024
Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges.
Environment Minister, Penny Simmonds today announced the terms of reference for a rapid review into the Wairoa flood response.
New Zealand has extended its contribution to the US-led coalition working to uphold maritime security in the Red Sea, Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today.
New compliance funding in Budget 2024 will ensure Inland Revenue is better equipped to catch individuals who are evading their tax obligations, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says.
The Coalition Government is taking action to reduce expenditure on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM) while maintaining the safety of workers and road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
11 JULY 2024
Te Arawa Lakes Trust centenary celebrations mark a significant milestone for all the important work done for the lakes, the iwi and for the Bay of Plenty region.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to the Republic of Korea and Japan next week.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says today is another important step towards establishing charter schools, with the application process officially opening.
MBIE’s annual Petroleum Reserves report detailing a 20 per cent reduction in New Zealand’s natural gas reserves shows the need to reverse the oil and gas exploration ban, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further sanctions as part of the Government’s ongoing response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Minister for Regulation David Seymour says that the OECD Product Market Regulation Indicators (PMRI) released this morning shows why New Zealanders sorely need regulatory reform.
10 JULY 2024
The coalition Government is proud to announce the launch of its Climate Strategy, a comprehensive and ambitious plan aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change and preparing for its future effects.
The National Bowel Screening Programme has reached a significant milestone, with two million home bowel screening kits distributed across the country, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.
More than 1,300 people have submitted on the recent proposal to make it easier to build granny flats, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say.
New Zealanders will get to enjoy more of our country’s natural beauty including at Cathedral Cove – Mautohe thanks to a $25 million boost for conservation, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced today.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have announced a further $16 million of support for Ukraine, as it defends itself against Russia’s illegal invasion.
9 JULY 2024
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Country Kindy in Manawatu will be able to remain open, after being granted a stay from the Ministry of Education for 12 weeks.
New export arrangements signed today by New Zealand and Indonesia will boost two-way trade, Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.
A Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) framework has been released by the Coalition Government for consultation, providing an opportunity for industry to reduce net CO2 emissions from gas use and production.
The Government is progressing a requirement for building consent authorities to use remote inspections as the default approach so building a home is easier and cheaper.
A new revision programme enabling the Government to continue the progressive revision of Acts in New Zealand has been presented to Parliament, Attorney-General Judith Collins announced today.
The Government will be aligning the Clean Car Importer Standard with Australia in order to provide the vehicle import market with certainty and ease cost of living pressures on Kiwis the next time they need to purchase a vehicle.
Education Minister Erica Stanford has today announced three appointments to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
6 JULY 2024
A further $3 million of funding to Wairoa will allow Wairoa District Council to get on with cleaning up household waste and sediment left by last week’s flooding, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark
5 JULY 2024
Education Minister Erica Stanford has today thanked the outgoing Secretary for Education.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has concluded the Future for Local Government Review and confirmed that the Coalition Government will not be responding to the review’s recommendations.
Associate Health Minister for Pharmac David Seymour says today’s announcement that Pharmac is opening consultation on new cancer medicines is great news for Kiwi cancer patients and their families.
A half-century after pursuing self-government, Niue can count on New Zealand’s steadfast partnership and support, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.
Acting Internal Affairs Minister David Seymour says wait times for passports are reducing, as the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department) reports the highest ever monthly figure for digital uptake in passport applications.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is getting on with the Government’s first seven Roads of National Significance (RoNS) projects expected to begin procurement, enabling works and construction in the next three years.
The Coalition Government is building for roll growth and easing pressure in Auckland’s school system, by committing to the construction of a new primary school, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
4 JULY 2024
An independent expert advisory panel has been appointed to review the Public Works Act to make it easier to build infrastructure, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk has announced.
A trip to Australia next week to meet mining sector operators and investors will signal New Zealand is once again open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
No comments:
Post a Comment