VAULTING MATILDA

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

ISSUE 5, August 27 2010

THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION BILL

Public submissions are now being invited on the New Zealand Productivity Commission Bill. The ACT Party is very proud of this Bill – a focus on productivity is at the heart of our Confidence and Supply Agreement with National and the establishment of a Productivity Commission would be a big step forward.

Between the years 1992-2000 we led Australia in the annual average growth of our labour productivity. Over the next nine years the Aussies caught us, overtook us and achieved almost double our labour productivity growth. Institutions are important, and high quality institutions such as the Australian Productivity Commission have contributed significantly to improving policy in Australia.

Australia’s Commission is tasked with rigorously evaluating the costs and benefits of policies and examining the alternatives. Most importantly, it considers matters independently from the government. The results speak for themselves.

A New Zealand Commission, in a similar mould to Australia’s, would have the scope to explore a wide range of issues, across the public and private sectors. The Commission would work independently and transparently, consulting with public and private organisations, and would be able to make recommendations free from political interference. The Commission’s clear focus would be raising the living standards of all New Zealanders.

To send an online submission on the New Zealand Productivity

Commission Bill click here

Rodney Hide

Leader, ACT Party

[Full release with charts Vaulting_Matilda_Issue_5.pdf]

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