NEWS ON POLICY
AND POLITICS |
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IN POLITICS Emissions trading regime a flagship for Labour's fortunes? IN OTHER NEWS Sydney Declaration on Climate Change and Energy Final report issued for Quality Regulation Review Official Information Bill lost on second reading IN PARLIAMENT Bills Introduced more... Before Select Committee Delayed more... Bills Reported Back / Awaiting Second Reading more... Bills Passed Second Reading more... Supplementary Order Papers more...
Bills Passed more... Acts Assented more... Regulations more... HEARINGS OF NOTE more... LEGISLATION IN THE WINGS more... IN CONSULTATION more...
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Emissions trading regime a flagship for Labour's fortunes?The Prime Minister's opening address to Parliament this year left no doubt that the government intended to hang its hat on all things green. Since then, a small sustainability industry has been spawned within Wellington's bureaucracy and the resources of several core ministries have been bent upon the design and development of an emissions trading regime. The timing of any announcement about the scope and shape of the new scheme is closely guarded. But this and the fact that several Ministers have been involved in the decision making are a reliable indication that the scheme will be significant and very probably the flagship of Labour's efforts to restore itself in the eyes of disaffected voters. Minister Parker's comments at a recent climate change conference in Wellington were consistent with that and the inference can be drawn that government intends to deal not only with carbon emissions, but also all other greenhouse gases. That will be ambitious. The Europeans have found the development of a carbon trading system complex enough and the concern here will have to be whether the government might bite off more than it can chew. Parker's undisguised enthusiasm for what's in the wings might play politically, but both he and the government will take a severe knock if the proposed scheme is not practicable, particularly within the limited timeframes available. As to when all will be revealed, it remains anyone's guess. However, with the Prime Minister freshly back from APEC and allowing time for any tweaking that might be required as a result of the Sydney declaration, late next week seems a reasonable bet. At the very least the government will want this particular rabbit pulled from the hat well before the Labour Party conference at the beginning of November.
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| IN OTHER NEWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sydney Declaration On Climate Change And EnergyThe Sydney Declaration on Climate Change and Energy was the major outcome of this week's APEC summit. John Howard highlighted the significance of the agreement in uniting major polluters under one "aspirational" emissions reduction goal. However, environmental organisations have criticised the Declaration as being a "distraction" from the UN process. Though the Sydney Declaration's aspirational goals contrasted with talks in Vienna, APEC leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UN process for a post-2012 international agreement. Momentum is building for the December UN Framework Convention on Climate Change talks in Bali, Indonesia. Final Report Issued For Quality Regulation ReviewCommerce Minister Lianne Dalziel has announced the final report of a 15-month Quality Regulation Review to address regulatory barriers to business growth. The Review has resulted in a long list of small changes, with no large amendments to the pieces of legislation that many had hoped would be focussed upon, such as the Holidays Act, Health and Safety in Employment Act, or the Employment Relations Act - all issues raised by businesses through the Business Consultation Website and the interviews carried out in the horticulture, hospitality, retail and wine industries. Several changes are being or have already been made to the government's policy process, such as changes to the regulatory impact analysis requirements, the introduction of the business cost calculator, and new guidance for policy makers on regulatory flexibility and enforcement. The government also has several initiatives planned over the short and medium terms. They are:
The government's objectives for the ongoing improvement of regulation are:
Official Information Bill Lost On Second Reading
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IN PARLIAMENT |
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Bills IntroducedSecurities (Local Authority Exemption) Amendment Bill This Bill amends the Securities Act 1978 with the intention of providing local authorities with an exemption from the full disclosure requirements of that Act when issuing debt securities to the public. This reduced disclosure requirement will exempt local authorities from the requirement to produce a prospectus signed by all councilors when issuing debt securities to the public. Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Bill This Bill is intended to establish a statutory framework for the secure and sustainable funding of particular organisations that provide arts, educational, rescue or other community facilities or services that have been identified by the public as being vital for the Auckland region. Bills Before Select CommitteeDairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2) Open For Submissions
Bills DelayedThe report back dates for the following Bills have been delayed:
Bills Reported Back / Awaiting Second ReadingArmed Forces Law Reform Bill Bills Passed Second ReadingAviation Security Legislation Bill Supplementary Order PapersSOP 144: Aviation Security Legislation Bill This SOP divides the Aviation Security Legislation Bill into the following two Bills:
SOP 143: Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Bill This SOP amends the Copyright Act 1994 to replace section 88 of that Act with a new provision that also permits the satellite retransmission of free-to-air television broadcasts. Further, the SOP makes some consequential amendments to sections 148 and 189 of the Copyright Act 1994. SOP 139: Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill This SOP amends the Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill. It contains an amendment to the KiwiSaver Act 2006 to require KiwiSaver and complying fund providers to disclose their approach to responsible investment, effective on and from 1 April 2008. SOP 140: Aviation Security Legislation Bill This SOP seeks to amend the Aviation Security Legislation Bill. The amendment to clause 6: new section 12 inserts new subsection (5B), which clarifies that with respect to a person searched under new section 12(1), a member of the police, an aviation officer, a Customs officer, or an agent of the carrier authorised by the carrier for the purpose may not use an aid or device that produces an unclothed image of the person. SOP 116: Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill This SOP amends the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, primarily in order to align the provisions of the Bill with the legislative changes made by the Crown Entities Act 2004. And to give effect to the recommendations in the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct issued in March 2007. We note that the name of the Police Complaints Authority is to be changed to the Independent Police Conduct Authority. Therefore, the names of the principal Act and the Bill are amended accordingly. Bills PassedIndependent Police Conduct Authority Amendment Bill Acts AssentedBuilding (Consent Authorities) Amendment Act 2007 RegulationsLand Transport (Offences and Penalties) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2007 |
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The Commerce Select Committee began its consideration of Rodney Hide's Regulatory Responsibility Bill. The Law Commission agreed that there are problems with the current situation, but advised that the Bill is not a suitable solution. The Law Commission suggested the alternative could be that regulatory impact analysis is undertaken at the front end of the policy development process, rather than at the end. The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants also suggested that alternatives to the Bill should be considered. On the other hand, the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce voiced support for the Bill, and Business New Zealand sees the Bill as a step in the right direction (albeit with some amendments). The Justice and Electoral Select Committee commenced its consideration of the controversial Electoral Finance Bill. Submitters voiced some strong concerns, stating that the Bill "smacks of tyranny", it adopts "a scattergun approach" to electoral issues, and the Bill is a "regressive" piece of legislation. The Primary Production Select Committee received a report from the Lincoln University Professor Caroline Saunders on "Comparative Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of New Zealand's and the UK's Dairy Industry". This research focused on the current 'food miles' issue in respect of carbon emissions produced as a result of New Zealand exporting products overseas to the European market.
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Business Regulation Review PIE Tax Loopholes Land Transport Bill New Police Regulations
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IN CONSULTATION |
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LinksThis
publication is intended only to provide a summary of the subject
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© Russell McVeagh 2005. All rights reserved.