NEWS ON POLICY
AND POLITICS |
|
| A
MATTER OF OPINION IN PARLIAMENT Bills Introduced more... IN CONSULTATION more... IN
OTHER NEWS
|
|
A MATTER OF OPINION |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reform Over Substance?It was a near-run thing, but in the end Rodney Hide's Rating Cap Bill simply wasn't able to get past its first reading. As a result, the notion of limiting the power of local governments to raise revenue has, once again, been relegated to the back burner. There it will stay, until resurrected by more sympathetic government or otherwise addressed as part of the independent inquiry into local body rates announced last month. The chances of rating caps being revisited as part of any government-directed inquiry, though, is remote. Cynics might observe that this latest inquiry was driven simply by government desire to head off the investigation into local body rating by the Local Government and Environment Select Committee foreshadowed a week earlier by National's John Carter. There may well be something to that. Confronted with the prospect of an inquiry over which it had no control - as well as terms of reference that were likely to be inconveniently broad - government might have decided to follow the battle-tested rule that if you have to have an inquiry, make sure you have it on your own terms. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the announcement of an inquiry had the immediate advantage of taking at least some of the heat out of an increasingly trying political issue. The niceties of whether that inquiry is by select committee or independent body will be irrelevant to most people, who will simply be pleased that 'gumint' has stirred itself to do something. For the time being that will be enough. But government should have no illusions about its lee-way with the punters on this one. Announcements of extended rates rebates for the impecunious notwithstanding, people are looking for meaningful action. How meaningful that action will be will rest on the extent to which government is prepared to open up the inquiry to public submissions and allow a proper examination of year on year rates inflation. The parameters of the inquiry - and who will undertake it - are still unknown. In announcing it, Minister of Local Government, Mark Burton, said that the terms of reference would be made clear "in due course". That was nearly three weeks ago. Any further announcements about the reach of the inquiry probably will rest on Ministers' decision over what should be done about that most vexed of political problems, Auckland. Until recently, local government reform was a nettle that central government was unwilling to grasp - not least when it came to Auckland. As recently as last week Minister of Auckland Issues, Judith Tizard, reflected this reluctance by telling Parliament that local government reorganization was just a distraction and a likely waste of time. Whatever Ms Tizard's personal views might be, her colleagues' frustration with the obstacles thrown in the way of infrastructure development by Auckland's increasingly Byzantine governance has become palpable. It is this that lies behind the Prime Minister's meeting - also last week - with Auckland mayors on options for fundamental change in the larger city's governing structures. A hard look at that will no doubt be welcome to a lot of Aucklanders. But the form of government doesn't of itself deal with the substance of how its funded, by whom and by how much. These are the questions that the public will once again focus on once the dust of any restructuring settles. There is therefore another nettle that the government should grasp and that is to ensure that the independent inquiry should address what a structural review will not. Powers of local competence, consultation obligations, long term community plans, rates differentials and development contributions all need to be on the table, as should that even more difficult question, how much local government is enough government?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IN PARLIAMENT |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bills IntroducedOfficial Information (Openness of District Health Boards New Zealand) Amendment Bill: Members Bill (Jackie Blue, National) The Bill seeks to amend Schedule 1 of the Official Information Act 1982 by adding words to the item relating to Hospital boards. This is to clarify that any entity representing one or more District Health Boards is covered. First ReadingsBuilding (Late Consent is a Free Consent) Amendment
Bill. Members Bill Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill: Members
Bill (Lynne Pillay, Labour). Legal Services (Territorial Customary Rights) Amendment Bill. Government Bill The Bill seeks “ … to amend the Legal Services Act
2000 to ensure that it applies to persons making application to
the High Court for territorial customary rights orders under the
Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004." This Bill seeks to amend the Minimum Wage Act 1983 to extend its provisions to apply to payments made under contracts for services that are remunerated below minimum wage. The Bill has been referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee and submissions have been called for. Submissions close on 12 October 2006. Resource Management (Restricted Coastal Activities) Amendment
Bill. Members Bill (Dr Hon Nick Smith) Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association Empowering
Bill: Private Bill (Eric Roy, National) Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment: Government Bill The Bill seeks to amend the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act to make enhancements to the assessment and resolution of leaky building claims. Before Select CommitteeOpen for submissions
Submissions closed
Reported BackImmigration Advisors Licensing Bill Insolvency Law Reform Bill This Bill was reported back from the Commerce Committee last month. The committee has recommended that be passed with amendments. The Bill updates the process for conducting insolvency under the Companies Act 1993, and repeals and replaces the personal insolvency provisions in the Insolvency Act 1967. Alternative methods of dealing with personal insolvency, a new no-asset procedure, a system of voluntary administration and improving the law on cross-border insolvency are all addressed in the Bill. Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill The Bill is designed to control the flow of spam email, has been reported back to the House by the Commerce select committee. A number of changes have been recommended by the committee, including:
Second ReadingStandards and Conformance Bill Committee stageEmployment Relations Amendment Bill Third ReadingChild Support Amendment Bill (No 4) Acts AssentedKiwiSaver Bill
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IN OTHER NEWS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KiwiSaver Legislation PassedThe Minister of Finance Michael Cullen said the passing of the KiwiSaver Bill is an important milestone towards helping hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders secure their financial future. "The passing of the legislation by 71 votes to 48 underlines the Labour-led government's commitment to making saving a priority. We promised to put financial security in retirement within the reach of every New Zealander and we have delivered," Dr Cullen said. Courts Receive Resource BoostThe Minister for Courts announced the creation of 19 additional positions within key Courts on Friday. The positions will be spread across the Auckland District Court (10), Manukau District Court (3) and Christchurch District Court (6). Law Change Planned For ACC Levy RatesACC Minister Ruth Dyson has announced plans for a law change to treat the self-employed and employers the same when setting ACC levy rates. Legislation will be introduced shortly to amend the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001, to allow a merger of the ACC Self-Employed Work Account and ACC Employers’ Account, effective from 1 April 2007. "The account merger will ensure that ACC levies paid by businesses are fairer, as they will be based on injury risk rather than business structure. It will also ensure that the levies are more stable, for both self-employed and employers," Ms Dyson said.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LinksThis
publication is intended only to provide a summary of the subject
covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal
advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained
in this publication without first obtaining specific professional
advice. If you require any advice or further information on the
subject matter of this newsletter, please contact the partner/solicitor
in the firm who normally advises you, or alternatively contact:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© Russell McVeagh 2005. All rights reserved.