Annex Three: Reports on Key Regulatory Issues
On 7 February 2007, Cabinet directed relevant departments to further consider some specific issues raised during the Review, and report back with proposed solutions or a reason why maintaining the current arrangements is the best of the feasible options for addressing these issues [CBC Min (07) 3/7 refers]. The key points are outlined below:
Liquor Licensing
- The Ministry of Justice considers that a number of the issues raised by submitters in relation to liquor licensing are significant policy issues and are therefore not within the scope of the Review. The Ministry's policy resources are currently focused on the Review of the Sale and Supply of Liquor to Minors. However, the Ministry notes that there are some discrete issues that have been raised by submitters under the Quality Regulation Review that could be considered for inclusion in the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill, proposed for introduction in 2007.
Cost of Compliance with HSNO
- Recent work, including a review of the compliance and enforcement regime for hazardous substances, has led to mechanisms being put in place to address the compliance costs for business under HSNO. In addition, several amendments to HSNO are proposed for inclusion in the Omnibus Bill.
Variability in Territorial Authority Approaches to Regulation and Prescriptive Detail and Alleged Creep of Plans
- Significant work is underway across a number of portfolios to improve the quality of local government's involvement in regulatory activities. In addition, DIA has published "Policy development guidelines for regulatory functions involving local government" to assist central government departments to better consider the most appropriate role for local authorities in regulatory activities.
Multiple and Extensive Requests for Information
- Statistics New Zealand has a number of initiatives in place to minimise respondent load and reduce duplication around information collection, and is increasingly investigating new ways of achieving this.
Long-Term Council Community Plan Audit Requirements
- DIA considers that the reviews of the operation of the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) and the Local Electoral Act 2001, that will be undertaken by the Local Government Commission later this year, are the most appropriate vehicle for considering matters relating to the auditing of Long-term Council Community Plans.
Multiple Audits of Providers in the Health Sector
- The Ministry of Health has initiated a project to identify where contractual and legislative requirements could be better targeted and enhanced to ensure that audits of health service providers are efficient and effective, and to remove duplication.
Information on Automatic Payments and Client Overpayments
- Inland Revenue considers that the means by which the information on automatic payments is currently provided to taxpayers is sufficient for the majority of taxpayers to be aware of their options, but is reviewing ways of improving systems and information regarding client overpayments.
Information on Parental and Paid Parental Leave Entitlements
- The Department of Labour (DOL) is putting in place a number of initiatives to improve information and employer understanding of parental leave and paid parental leave entitlements, by 30 June 2007.
Provision of Cross Government "High Quality Information"
- The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) is leading a cross-government project to identify options for improved communication with business around regulation as part of a "high quality information provision campaign", and will report to Cabinet on the progress of this project by 31 July 2007.
Difficulties with the Holidays Act
- DOL responded to concerns about certainty and clarity of options for businesses when calculating Holidays Act entitlements by releasing an on-line tool that will assist with entitlement calculations. While other options, such as legislative change to provide greater certainty and clarity, were considered, the Minister of Labour, following consultation with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and Business NZ, did not consider these appropriate. The Minister of Labour will, however, report to Cabinet on the implementation and effectiveness of the online tool, including any recommended changes to the online tool, by June 2008.
Invoices for GST Purposes
- Following further work, it is no longer proposed that the matter of what constitutes an invoice for GST purposes be addressed through the Omnibus Bill. Officials consider that this matter is more appropriately addressed through the normal Generic Tax Policy Process and it is recommended that it be added to the Government's Tax Policy Work Programme.
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