ACTivate - The Regulatory Standards Bill: What is it and Why does it Matter? Listen to Wellbeing Economist Paul Dalziel Unpack this Concerning Bill.

Despite first appearances this proposed legislation is anything but boring. If passed, it will become deeply important to how we "do" legislation in NZ. Economist and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa researcher Paul Dalziel joins Catherine to delve into: What is regulation? What is the aim of this bill? Will it achieve it? And is there even a problem in the first place that justifies the estimated 20 million dollar price tag?
Paul explains that the Bill is unnecessary, unfit for purpose and narrow. When setting standards there should be expert input, broad consensus and wide public consultation, none of which occurred satisfactorily in this case.
Paul's opinion, shared by many other leading academics, is that this legislation will distort the parliamentary process towards an ACT party point of view due to its narrow focus on private property rights, which is not healthy for the general debate we want to have in parliament. He comments it is concerning that other important principles are not in the Bill, like the rights of future generations for example, and we talk about the glaring absence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Essential listening for anyone wanting to learn more about this controversial Bill that experts like Sir Geoffrey Palmer has said, "is the strangest piece of NZ legislation he has ever seen."
And listen out for part 2 of this interview in October's edition.