Friday, March 25, 2011

Still flawed

From the Maxim Institute's latest newsletter:

A Bill that is "functionally equivalent to a bill of rights" is back before Parliament. It's the Regulatory Standards Bill, introduced by Hon Rodney Hide. The Bill is virtually identical to a Regulatory Responsibility Bill recommended by a Taskforce 18 months ago, so it has the same aims—and the same flaws—as that bill. A recent Guest Paper that we published discussed some of the issues. The Bill might sound bland, but the paper's authors critiqued a lack of problem diagnosis, concerns about the Bill's principles of good law-making, and the potential to get civil servants and judges involved in contentious policy issues. The Bill is waiting for a first reading in Parliament. If it passes, it will go to a Select Committee for submissions.


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