Government Caned Over Compliance Costs

Wednesday, August 15 2001
Owen Jennings
Press Releases -- Economy

An independent report on the effectiveness of Regulatory Impact Statements shows why compliance costs are out of hand and getting worse, ACT MP Owen Jennings said today.

"The report, by Tasman Economics, is scathing in its criticism of the way the Government prepares Regulatory Impact Statements - the checking system on new legislation.

"The report criticises them generally as 'too brief', 'poor quality', 'misleading', with 'insufficient monitoring' and a 'lack of transparency'.

"The Tasman Economics Regulatory Impact Statement Review is a damning appraisal of an important process that - if done properly - would help reduce compliance costs.

"The Government now has a further dilemma. It has a compliance cost report stating categorically that legislation like the RMA is costing too much in dollars, time and frustration, and now another saying its checking system on new legislation and regulations is hopeless. It has a significant number of members refusing to let important laws be amended to reduce compliance costs.

"The test for the Government is this: does it really support business?" Owen Jennings said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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