NEWS ON POLICY
AND POLITICS |
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IN POLITICS Greens opt for the political margins? IN OTHER NEWS Waste levy bill delayed Local body spending … and revenue raising more... Review of Financial Products Providers more... Kiwisaver more... Official Statistics Out more... IN PARLIAMENT Bills Introduced more... At Select Committee Delayed more... Bills Reported Back/Awaiting Second Reading more... Supplementary Order Papers more... Bills Passed more... Regulations more... IN THE WINGS more... IN CONSULTATION more...
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Greens opt for the political margins?The wholesale adoption of environmentalism by New Zealand's political mainstream has left the Green Party struggling for an identity. Jeanette Fitzsimons' 'fact not faith' comments on climate change earlier in the year and her recognition of the role of the market in successful environmental solutions suggested that the Party might be trying to build credibility with the political centre as a non-partisan and therefore uncompromised voice on environmental issues. But such a rebadging would have involved a quantum shift for a Party content with being pigeon-holed as political 'watermelons' (green on the outside and red in the middle). The socialist roots of Keith Locke and Sue Bradford, and the social crusading of Tanczos and Kedgley has made left-liberalism a natural philosophical base. Moving from it was never going to be easy. And if Sue Bradford's recent championing of votes for 16 year-olds suggests, it is simply a bridge too far. Coming full on the heels of her well-meaning essay into smacking bans, this latest proposal runs the risk of reinforcing perceptions of the Greens as less an environmental party than one on the political fringe. Some might say that this is all that the Party has left to it. Certainly, the case for abandoning its more radical social brand in favour of a dedicated environmental focus is difficult to make when Labour and National are doing their level best to out-green them on their home turf. But what that calculation ignores is whether the Greens have a credible raison d'etre beyond environmentalism. It also neglects the doubtful wisdom of trying to out-left Labour when the electorate is leaning increasingly to the right. Most tellingly of all, it fails to recognise the potential for an environmental advocacy that stands apart from political left and right and keeps the main parties honest. Fitzsimons seemed to be taking some steps in that direction, only to be undercut by Bradford and a policy position that, by any judgement, is marginal at best. For as long as the main parties paid lip-service to environmental concerns the Greens had licence to range across the extremes of the social policy spectrum. They were, after all, the only game in town. No doubt the loyalties of the Party's green support base will remain strong, but in the face of credible alternatives, the Greens will need to be careful that they don't test that loyalty by one too many appeal to those on the political margins. It is not a long-term survival strategy.
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Waste levy bill delayedThe Local Government and Environment Select Committee has deferred the report back of the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill to 31 October. Given the pressures on the Committee and the substantial redrafting of the Bill that has been foreshadowed, the motives behind the delay are probably benign. However, it is fairly noted that the revised timing is also convenient in that it post-dates this year's local body elections (due 13 October) and avoids the risk of a negative public response to anything that smacks of a cash grab by local authorities. Environment Minister Benson-Pope has remained relatively silent on government's preferences for any revised Bill. It is, he has said, a matter for the select committee. However, what is known is that Ministers are concerned about the adequacy of voluntary industry management and want the capacity to deal more effectively with those players who are seen as taking advantage of the current regulatory framework. The 'regulate yourselves or we will' model is one with which industry has become very familiar and that generally delivers the outcomes government wants. In this instance, though Ministerial concerns about industry product stewardship give rise to the question whether this time government will be inclined to apply regulatory or economic disincentives in the hope of bringing the recalcitrant into line. The government's position will be made clearer in a supplementary order paper that is currently in preparation. Expectations are that it will present four main areas of the government's thinking - product stewardship, waste levies, a container deposit regime and public place recycling. It's very much a case of watch this space. In the meantime, the Ministry for the Environment boxes on with the waste levies concept, endeavouring to dodge the problems of defining what is waste by suggesting that levies should only apply at point of disposal - in this case municipal landfills. Local body spending … and revenue raisingStatistics New Zealand's March quarter data show a 12 percent increase in local spending over the same quarter last year. This brings the increase for the past five years to 54 percent, ahead of rates revenue rises of 46 percent for the same period. Potentially easing the growing burden on ratepayers, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel announced government's intention to remove some of the obstacles to raising funds from sources other than rates as a means of funding infrastructure projects. The proposed initiative will see the restoration of an exemption for local authorities to the current Securities Act regime when issuing debt securities. The move is intended to bring disclosure requirements for local bodies in line with existing exemptions to the Crown, the Reserve Bank and Housing New Zealand Corporation. Review of Financial Products ProvidersCabinet has released its decisions on the Review of Financial Products and Providers ("RFPP"). These decisions are intended to complement the Review of Financial Intermediaries, and are intended to rationalise the currently confused regulatory regime to deal with gaps and inconsistencies in the treatment of non-bank financial products and providers. The main changes include:
The second stage will involve decisions by 30 November 2007 in respect of:
Details of the decisions and their background can be found on the Ministry of Economic Development's website at www.med.govt.nz. KiwisaverIn the coming week, Finance Minister, Michael Cullen will trumpet the introduction of Kiwisaver, in the face of union and employer concern about the practicalities of the scheme. John Key will question the likely uptake of the scheme, noting wryly that if National had introduced the Mark II Version of Kiwisaver, he would be castigated for weeks about giving tax breaks to the 'rich'. Official Statistics OutAlso this week the nation's official statistics will be released, sending critical signals about economic growth and the probable implications for inflation and interest rates.
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IN PARLIAMENT |
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Bills IntroducedPorirua City Pauahatanui (Burial Grounds) Bill (Local) This Bill confirms the vesting of property in Porirua City Council, and provides for the status, control and management of the Pauatahanui Burial Ground. At Select CommitteeThe Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Bill has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee.
Bills DelayedCopyright (New Technologies and Performers' Rights) Amendment Bill (now 25 July) Bills Reported Back / Awaiting Second ReadingEvidence Amendment Bill Supplementary Order PapersSOP 120: State-Owned Enterprises (AgriQuality Limited and Asure New Zealand Limited) Bill: Hon Trevor Mallard This SOP amends the State-Owned Enterprises (Agri-Quality Limited and Asure New Zealand Limited) Bill. It inserts a new definition of "Examination services" in clause 3 and consequentially amends clause 5. It also adds two new subparts to Part 2 of the Bill. New subpart 3 requires the Commerce Commission to investigate and report on the prices charged for animal material and animal products examination services provided in accordance with the Animal Products Act 1999. New subpart 4 provides for the Crown to continue to negotiate with its international trading partners in order to allow animal material and animal product examination services to be provided by agencies other than the Crown. SOP 119: Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill: Hon Peter Dunne This SOP amends the Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, Kiwi Saver, and Remedial Matters) Bill by inserting an amendment to the definition of finance lease in the Income Tax Act 2004, together with consequential amendments to that Act. The amendment to clause 2 provides for the commencement of the amendments on 20 June 2007, which is the date of the announcement of the change. SOP 118: Wills Bill: Metiria Turei This SOP contains amendments to the Wills Bill to enable a person under 18 years, who has dependent children but are not (nor ever have been) in marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship, to make wills without prior Family Court approval. This SOP recognises that these young people have entered into the adult community and are expected to bear the full responsibilities as adults therefore, it is important that the law recognises their capacity. Bills PassedSocial Security Amendment Bill RegulationsKiwiSaver Amendment Regulations 2007 |
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Financial Products and Providers Legislation will be introduced before the end of the year to implement the first stage of the Government's proposed changes for the financial sector. The Minister has committed to announce plans for Phase Two implementation before the end of the year. Limited Partnerships Legislation will be introduced next month to replace the special partnerships section of the Partnerships Act 1908 with a new section on limited partnerships. Securities Act - exemption for Local Authorities The Government is planning on restoring the exemption for local authorities under the Securities Act disclosure regime in an Amendment Bill to be introduced later this year.
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IN CONSULTATION |
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© Russell McVeagh 2005. All rights reserved.