A government on the fast track making no apologies about it
The unprecedented use of urgency is "great", and the fast-track consenting bill, deliberately disruptive
Mōrena, and welcome to The Bulletin for Wednesday, March 13, written by Anna Rawhiti-Connell.
In today’s edition: van Velden pledges to untangle Holiday Act mess; no timeline on reintroducing prescription fee pegged to new cancer drug funding; Climate Change Commission flags risk to ETS revenue pinned to funding tax cuts; but first, the government’s record-breaking use of urgency and its disruptive fast track consenting bill
Fast track consenting ‘deliberately disrupting the system’
Announced last Thursday, the government’s fast-track consenting bill for infrastructure projects was the subject of an interview between Q&A’s Jack Tame and the minister for housing, infrastructure and RMA reform, Chris Bishop, on Sunday. When asked if it was appropriate for ministers to use ministerial discretion to overrule judicial decisions as allowed by the bill, Bishop said they were trying to “change the system”, he makes “no apologies for it”, and that they are “deliberately disrupting the system”. As an example of the value of longform, on-camera interviewing, it’s worth a watch. At the announcement, Bishop described the approach as a “one-stop shop” system that would “cut through the thicket of red and green tape holding New Zealand back, make it clear to the world that we are open for business, and build a pipeline of projects around the country to grow the economy and improve our productivity”.
Officials didn’t have time to consider environmental impacts
Catherine covered the alarm bells being rung by environmental experts about the approach in mid-February. Ecologist Marnie Prickett told The Spinoff then that it wasn’t “normal, everyday bill-making” and that it would “bypass environmental law that we have had in place for 30 years”. It is one of the most significant components of the government’s 100 day plan. As the Herald’s Thomas Coughlan writes in a good overview of what the bill will allow and what it overrides, it gives ministers the ability to effectively consent to proposals themselves, with expert panels only able to apply relevant consent and permit conditions. As Newsroom’s Jono Milne details, officials didn’t have time to consider the bill’s impact on fisheries and conservation estate. The government has likened the bill to the previous fast-track consenting legislation put in place during the Covid pandemic, but Bell Gully’s Natasha Garvan and Will Hulme-Moir highlight a number of key differences.
Record set for use of urgency
The fast-track consenting bill and the rhetoric around disruption, speed and getting things done is dovetailing with concerns about the government’s use of urgency during the 100-day plan period. As Newsroom’s Marc Daalder reports, data from the parliamentary library shows that urgency has been used more than ever before at such an early stage in the term. RNZ’s Jo Moir cites Victoria University’s Dean Knight, who says the claim that the government has a mandate for abnormal, expedited law-making is "nonsense and illogical".
Urgency taking a toll as Luxon’s radar diagnosed as on the blink again
For all the talk of “kick-arse” and “great” progress when questioned about speed, the question of Luxon’s political radar has entered the chat again after first appearing around his handling of the accommodation allowance issue. The Post’s Luke Malpass noted Luxon struggled and seemed tired when speaking to the cost increase caused by changes to the way interest deductibility for residential investors will be phased in on Monday. Malpass points to days of urgency. The Herald’s Audrey Young (paywalled) suggests it is not so much the change that’s the sin but the inability to front it with the gravitas required. Young observes that “It is reasonable to adjust a fixed plan as circumstances allow. But it should not be dismissed as something done lightly. And if it has to be changed now, when the ink on the coalition deal is barely dry, what else might change?”
By The Bottle is an Auckland-based independent retailer renowned for curating a collection of organic, biodynamic, and sustainably-produced beverages.
Ideal for gifts for wine aficionados or enhancing a casual evening with a comforting bowl of pasta. Enjoy nationwide shipping options, whether it's a single bottle or a full dozen. Click here to explore their range or visit in person at their new store at 811 Mt Eden Road in Auckland (sponsored)
van Velden pledges to untangle Holiday Act mess
RNZ’s Craig McCulloch reports on a speech given by workplace relations minister Brooke van Velden to the Auckland chamber of commerce yesterday. van Velden specifically zoned on fixing the Holiday Act, a beleaguered piece of work started under the previous government in 2018. In 2016, it was estimated that mistakes in calculating holiday pay could impact up to 760,000 workers at a cost of $2b. Work on the Act was finally shelved by Labour last year until after the election. The minister also singled out health and safety regulation, simplifying personal grievances and contractors’ ability to challenge their employment status in the Employment Court if they believed they should be treated as employees. Act campaigned on that policy saying it created “uncertainty for businesses and can prove costly for employers.” As reported by the Herald’s Jenée Tibshraeny in late December (paywalled), it was a point of confusion in the National-Act coalition agreement as the wording referred to maintaining a “status quo” where employees can’t do that. They can. It was the basis of the landmark Employment Court decision on the employment status of four Uber drivers in 2022, which is currently under appeal.
No timeline on reintroducing prescription fee pegged to new cancer drug funding
In an interview with The Post’s Rachel Thomas yesterday, Health Minister Shane Reti did not rule out making cuts to other areas of health funding to cover the cost of funding new cancer drugs. Back when the policy was announced by National last August, it was the trade-off for reinstating the $5 prescription charge. The Post’s Anna Whyte reported last week that the timeline for reintroducing the co-payment was unclear. Thomas reported on Saturday that oncologist Dr Chris Jackson was calling on Reti to update the list of drugs to be funded, saying it was “daft” to be using a list drawn up 18 months ago (by Jackson and colleagues). Reti told Thomas yesterday that the list may change. Jackson also said that by announcing the list of drugs that National was going to fund last year, it had hamstrung Pharmac in the negotiating process, with its hand revealed as such. Questions were raised at the time about government direction on Pharmac’s purchasing decisions.
Financial support from our audience is essential to ensuring our work continues
Whether it’s a shocking and consquential announcement or rats are taking over our supermarkets, we know our community comes to The Spinoff to make sense of the world in the best and worst of times. We're committed to telling stories about Aotearoa, for Aotearoa, with rigour, range and humour. If that’s something you value, we’d love for you to consider becoming a Spinoff member or donating. If you're reading this and are already support us, a huge thank you from all of us.
Mad Chapman, Editor
Click and Collect
Climate Change Commission's recommendation on carbon credits could undermine plans to use ETS auction revenue to help fund tax cuts.
Retail card spending falls after holiday bounce
Head of Police Association takes aim at government priorities and landlord tax break after pay offer.
A good bit of select committee reporting from the Herald’s Adam Pearse on the teens making submissions on the bill that would create a ram-raid offence and enable 12 and 13-year-olds to be charged in the courts.
Feeling clever? Click here to play 1Q, Aotearoa’s newest, shortest daily quiz.
Rachel Judkins looks into the complicated truth behind school attendance figures. Joel MacManus outlines what we can expect on Thursday when councillors meet to decide on the future of housing in Wellington. Maia Ingoe reflects on the loss of independent journalism following the Gisborne Herald’s sale to NZME. Gabi Lardies reviews Japanese pop-punk act Shonen Knife. Madeleine Chapman takes a dreary walk through an article written by AI. A woman with a severe health condition breaks down her expenses for the Cost of Being.
Sporting snippets
Netball New Zealand is investigating a potential bid to host the 2031 World Cup, and pay talks with players are currently on hold as the body negotiates a new broadcasting deal.
Ruby Tui and Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu did not participate in the haka before the Chiefs Manawa game against the Blues, and the Chiefs aren’t saying why.
Coming soon: K-POLYS, a one-off documentary about three Pacific K-pop superfans
K-pop originated as a musical genre in South Korea in the 1990s but is now a worldwide cultural phenomenon that incorporates music, dancing, fashion and, importantly, a committed fan community. K-POLYS is an intimate video portrait of three young Polynesians enchanted by K-pop, directed by Litia Tuiburelevu and coming to The Spinoff on Tuesday, March 19.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
If you liked what you read today, share The Bulletin with friends, family and colleagues.