Productivity Commission needs proper purpose
Labour is calling on the government to better explain the role and purpose of the proposed Productivity Commission.
"New Zealand needs a properly mandated Commission, not a regulation razor gang," Labour Finance Spokesperson David Cunliffe said today.
Initial documents released today by the Minister of Finance describe the purpose of the proposed Productivity Commission to include:
one-off reviews of existing regulations
Reviews of the efficiency and effectiveness of regulation agencies
Regulatory impact analysis of proposed new regulations".
"This sounds like simply outsourcing the Regulation Impact Advisory Unit that already exists within the Treasury. The government needs to clarify whether the RIAU is being axed or duplicated," David Cunliffe said.
"The Minister’s release fails to contain even an adequate definition of productivity. Real productivity growth is driven by the skills, technology and capital that enable workers and firms sustainably to lift output per hour.
"The Australian Commission is demonstrably independent, well resourced and broadly mandated. The New Zealand Commission looks at first glance like a very poor relation indeed.
"We call on the government to release for public discussion the Cabinet papers on the Commission, as a step towards establishing bipartisan support for an independent and enduring Commission.
"Labour is willing to have a good-faith dialogue with the government on the plan," David Cunliffe said.
