Regulatory Standards Bill proposal fails first test: Simon Upton

Simon Upton argues the bill pursues constitutional, not regulatory, ends. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 23 Jan 2025

The principles embedded in a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill fail to address “a need to improve productivity”, the stated intention of such a law, says Simon Upton, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.“If the proposed bill is indeed about improving productivity, then its principles need to be focused on securing benefits in excess of costs,” the independent officer of Parliament argues in his submission on proposals.Upton argues the proposed law’s principles are drawn from “notions of a cons...

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