Executive Summary
3. Following Ministers' consideration of the First Milestone Report for the Quality Regulation Review (which included changes to the regulatory impact analysis requirements, an initial list of proposals for regulatory amendment and other initiatives that should significantly improve future regulatory proposals), Cabinet directed departments to report to their relevant Review Minister on their progress in delivering on the Review's objectives and invited me to report back with a consolidated list of proposed solutions by 5 February 2007 (POL Min (06) 23/4 refers).
4. This paper describes:
- New initiatives to provide solutions to issues identified by the Review;
- Ongoing work, that specifically addresses issues identified by the Review; and
- Initiatives already in place that will provide solutions to issues highlighted in the Review.
5. Cabinet is asked to direct departments to provide deliverable solutions for the new initiatives in time for the Second Milestone Report for the Review due 31 March 2007.
6. Officials are, in some areas, being too cautious in providing solutions, primarily because they are taking a narrow view of issues that are within the scope of the review. In order to progress solutions in a timely manner Cabinet is asked to delegate to the Quality Regulation Review Ministerial Group the power to decide if an issue is inside the scope of the Review. As Cabinet agreement will be sought for the shape and implementation of all the proposed solutions, this delegation will speed up delivery of solutions and not reduce Cabinet's control.
7. In a companion paper the Minister for Building and Construction is reporting to Cabinet on the issues and solutions identified as a result of the examination of issues around the interface between building and resource consent processes.
8. In the First Milestone Report for the Quality Regulation Review, Cabinet agreed to strengthen the requirements for regulatory impact analysis (POL Min (06) 23/4 refers). Cabinet also directed officials from the Ministries of Economic Development and Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify the International Treaty exemption outlined in that paper (CAB Min (06) 40/4C). Cabinet agreement is sought for the clarification set out in this paper.
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