9. MARYAN STREET (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Commerce
What have been the outcomes of the Quality Regulation Review in terms of improving the regulatory environment for business?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Commerce) Link to this
The process of the Quality Regulation Review has been excellent because it has enabled the Government to consider regulation from the perception of business, and to hear not only their concerns but also their solutions. A key outcome has been the strengthened regulatory impact assessment regime, which came in on 1 April this year, including the requirement that discussion documents have draft regulatory impact statements, or, at least, include the questions that will enable a high-quality regulatory impact statement to be developed. In addition, the Business Consultation Website used in the review is being retained so that business can continue to give feedback on rules that affect them, and next year we start a 2-year trial of a business cost calculator, so that we can quantify the compliance costs of regulation.
Can the Minister identify specific improvements made to various regulatory frameworks, and how some of the overlapping issues have been addressed?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Link to this
There are actually too many to list in the time that I have available, but I shall mention just a few. The Accident Compensation Corporation and the Inland Revenue Department have agreed to improve the coordination of data collection, and to share information on businesses. The adjustment dates for excise and for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand levy paid by the wine industry have now been aligned. The Environmental Risk Management Authority and the Department of Labour have developed information and tools to assist Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act compliance in the farming and horticultural industries. The Ministry of Health is working with the health sector to reduce contractual and legislative requirements placed on suppliers of health-related services, including duplicated audit requirements. The Department of Building and Housing, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry for the Environment, and Local Government New Zealand are collaborating to sort out issues where the Resource Management Act and the Building Act coincide. The Department of Labour and the Ministry of Justice will soon issue a discussion document on Easter weekend and the rules around shop trading hours, sale of liquor, and statutory holidays. The list goes on.
Lindsay TischWill the Minister confirm that the report released today, Streamlining the System, states: “A large number of issues raised related to … underlying policy and so were outside the scope of the review.”; if so, can she inform the House when she or the Prime Minister will be announcing a new review that actually deals with the real issues, such as employment law, occupational safety and health, and the Resource Management Act, all of which concern New Zealand businesses of all sizes?
What future steps will be taken as a result of the decisions taken under the Quality Regulation Review?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Link to this
Due to the success of the sector studies contained in the report Streamlining the System, the Ministry of Economic Development is to report to me on proposals for a 5-year programme of sector studies, to be commenced next year. The Government will examine the feasibility of introducing standard business reporting, as used in the Netherlands and soon to be used in Australia, whereby businesses can submit financial data to several Government agencies in just one transaction, cutting the time and effort spent preparing and filing reports to the Government. New Zealand’s regulatory environment is in good shape, which is confirmed by our rating in world surveys, such as our No. 2 ranking in the World Bank’s Doing Business survey, and yesterday’s announcement that we have retained our No. 3 standing in the Fraser Institute’s report on world economic freedom. Doing business in New Zealand is good.