Govt releases new regulation - to control regulations

As the Government seeks to reduce regulation it has released its first Statement on Regulation - a set of regulations.

Finance Minister and Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide released the statement today.

It was born out of complaints about extra costs making it harder for businesses to cope in tough economic times, which were raised at the job summit earlier this year.

The statement requires government departments to provide annual regulatory plans of "all known and anticipated proposals to introduce, repeal or review legislation or regulation" and to certify Regulatory Impact Statements showing policy options have been thoroughly analysed.

It also requires systems be put in place for checking existing regulation.

Ministers will also be required to certify new regulation is consistent with the statement released today.

Finance Minister Bill English has said less, and better, regulation would help make New Zealand more productive.

"In our current financial situation the quality of the regulatory environment is even more important."

In a speech to the Christchurch Businessmen's Club Luncheon Hide said the Government would make it "very clear" to the public service that the changes were "the way that things will be done".

"The Statement takes a sledgehammer to the nanny state approach of the previous Government by reasserting traditional kiwi values like individual autonomy and responsibility," he said.

"I am not just committed to cutting red tape.

"I am determined to absolutely slash it."

A taskforce set up to recommend changes to the Regulatory Response Bill will report back by September 30, said Hide.

NZPA