Latest news with #RegulatoryStandardsBill
Newsroom
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsroom
The secret to-do list of David Seymour
Monday * Attend my first press conference as Deputy Prime Minister and speak solemnly about international affairs to strengthen the perception I am a world statesman worthy of respect. * Name some worthy academic no one has ever heard of and hold them to ridicule. * RSVP to the birthday party for a child of an influential donor from the Atlas Project. Tuesday * Take credit for the budget cuts to Radio New Zealand to strengthen the perception that Act is a powerful enemy of state-funded left-wing propaganda that attacks Act at every opportunity and gives Labour, the Greens and old scribble-face a free ride. * Increase state funding of Act's comms department. * Confirm that I will be happy to play pin the tail on the donkey at the Atlas Project children's birthday party. Wednesday * Ridicule Labour MP Willie Jackson for his comments that the Regulatory Standards Bill is set up for my mates from powerful corporations who are following their manifest destiny to despoil the countryside in exchange for massive profits which ought not be subject to tax. * Meet mates for drink. * Draw a line in the stand and decline invitation to actually play the donkey that gets a tail pinned to it at the Atlas Project children's birthday party. Thursday * Give Act's comms department the hard word to find someone who has made ridiculing remarks about me so I can whine and complain about it to strengthen the perception I am constantly under attack by the intelligentsia. * Find a way to undermine Luxon. * Find a way to undermine someone who votes Green and hugs trees. * Find a way to undermine somehow who can be described as a Māori fanatic. * Find a way to undermine someone who performs selfless acts for the betterment of society and gives hope to families doing it hard but who is associated with Labour. Friday * Seek private medical treatment for multiple puncture wounds inflicted by rich little brats wielding really sharp pins who seemed to take great pleasure in pinning a donkey's tail all over my body at the Atlas Project children's birthday party. Their parents seemed to enjoy it too. I can still hear their mocking laughter.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
The secret diary of . . . David Seymour
There's a lot on the agenda for David Seymour. PHOTO: RNZ MONDAY — Attend my first press conference as deputy prime minister and speak solemnly about international affairs to strengthen the perception I am a world statesman worthy of respect. — Name some worthy academic no-one has ever heard of and hold them to ridicule. — RSVP to the birthday party for a child of an influential donor from the Atlas Project. TUESDAY — Take credit for the budget cuts to Radio New Zealand to strengthen the perception that Act is a powerful enemy of state-funded left-wing propaganda that attacks Act at every opportunity and gives Labour, the Greens and old scribble face a free ride. — Increase state funding of Act's comms department. — Confirm that I will be happy to play pin the tail on the donkey at the Atlas Project birthday party. WEDNESDAY — Ridicule Labour MP Willie Jackson for his comments that the Regulatory Standards Bill is set up for my mates from powerful corporations who are following their manifest destiny to despoil the countryside in exchange for massive profits which ought not be subject to tax. — Meet mates for a drink. — Draw a line in the sand and decline an invitation to actually play the donkey that gets a tail pinned to it at the Atlas Project birthday party. THURSDAY — Give Act's comms department the hard word to find someone who has made ridiculing remarks about me so I can whine and complain about it to strengthen the perception I am constantly under attack by the intelligentsia. — Find a way to undermine Luxon. — Find a way to undermine someone who votes Green and hugs trees. — Find a way to undermine someone who can be described as a Māori fanatic. — Find a way to undermine someone who performs selfless acts for the betterment of society and gives hope to families doing it hard but who is associated with Labour. FRIDAY — Seek private medical treatment for multiple puncture wounds inflicted by rich little brats wielding really sharp pins who seemed to take great pleasure in pinning a donkey's tail all over my body at the Atlas Project birthday party. Their parents seemed to enjoy it too. I can still hear their mocking laughter. By Steve Braunias
Newsroom
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsroom
David Seymour's toothless tiger
Analysis: So far as I can see, Newsroom was the first organisation to report on the return of Act's Regulatory Standards Bill this parliamentary term, ahead of consultation opening on November 19 last year. We noted David Seymour's latest incarnation of the 20-year-old law reform proposal was intended to keep judicial scrutiny of law-making at arm's length. This week, the NZ Law Society has published what promises to be a landmark report, highlighting ongoing and emerging challenges with law-making impacting trust and confidence in the rule of law.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Rights Aotearoa Applauds Human Rights Commission's Powerful Stand Against Regulatory Standards Bill
Rights Aotearoa warmly welcomes the impressive and authoritative submission from Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission on the Regulatory Standards Bill. The Commission's return to formidable analytical strength is a significant and encouraging development for the entire human rights sector in Aotearoa. Its submission masterfully deconstructs the Bill's profound threats to our constitutional framework, perfectly articulating the core concern that the Bill attempts to create a false and dangerous hierarchy of human rights. This aligns precisely with Rights Aotearoa's analysis that the Bill selectively elevates narrow economic and property-based principles over fundamental social, cultural, and environmental rights that protect the well-being of all New Zealanders. We commend the Commission for reinforcing the fundamental truth that there is no hierarchy of human rights, and that all human rights are indivisible. The Commission's detailed critique—covering the Bill's constitutional overreach, its complete disregard for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and its flawed, undemocratic process—provides an unassailable case for its complete rejection. This submission is a testament that even though the Chief Human Rights Commissioner does not meet the statutory requirements for the job, the Commission's legal team, led by their extremely capable Chief Legal Officer, are highly talented. The commission's work provides a powerful, unifying voice for all who are dedicated to defending a fair, just, and democratic Aotearoa, and we are proud to stand alongside them in calling for this dangerous Bill to be withdrawn. The Human Rights Commission must be protected at all costs against voices—like those of ACT MP Todd Stephenson—who call for its dissolution. Rights Aotearoa's submission can be found here:
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
SociaLink Opposes Regulatory Standards Bill
SociaLink Tūhono Pāpori, the peak body for the community and social sector in the Western Bay of Plenty, has submitted strong opposition to the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill, urging Parliament to reject the Bill in full. 'This Bill is unnecessary, undermines democracy, erodes the Crown's obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and prioritises individuals and property over the public good,' says Liz Davies, Chief Executive of SociaLink. The Bill proposes introducing a set of principles to evaluate all new and existing legislation, with a heavy focus on protecting individual liberties and property rights. However, SociaLink argues this would undermine public good legislation and exclude core values central to Aotearoa's identity — particularly the omission of any reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 'There are already strong democratic systems in place to evaluate legislation,' she adds. 'Rather than overlaying an ideologically driven framework, we should be improving mechanisms like select committees, public consultation, and Treaty-based processes that reflect the diverse values of our society.' 'If for no other reason, the huge amount of work — and therefore money and time — this Bill would create to require all new and existing legislation to be reviewed is enough reason to reject the Bill,' Davies continues. 'Creating so much unnecessary work would seem to contradict the intention of the Minister of Regulation to encourage greater efficiency.' Davies also expressed concern over comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister, who has been publicly disparaging widely respected academics — including a New Zealander of the Year — because of differing views. 'I would expect any Minister of the Crown that disagrees with someone else's opinions to respond respectfully and professionally, as required by the Cabinet Manual,' she said. 'The Bill fails to achieve what it purports to achieve and does not protect communities, collective rights and the environment. This Bill should not proceed,' concludes Davies.
