ACTivate - Economist Paul Dalziel on the Regulatory Standards Bill Part 2: More Red Tape Not Less, Time Consuming and Costly for No Quantifiable Benefit to People and Planet
Listen to part 2 of Catherine's interview with wellbeing economist Paul Dalziel who explains that the RSB will make it more difficult to pass legislation that seeks a proportionate reduction of individual property rights for a major contribution to the public good, for example some climate change policies.
Paul argues the bill will increase red tape, slow down law making and won't make New Zealand more prosperous. His view is that there is nothing in the bill that is visionary about raising the wellbeing of future generations.
Paul's takeaway message is that we should look to the Welsh, "Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015" as an alternative way to design regulatory standards, "the way to frame it should be about the wellbeing of future generations based on widespread consultation and input from experts to...create consensus rather than adopting a narrow libertarian property rights framework that... will constrain the future path of Parliament twisted into a certain direction."
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ACTivate - The Regulatory Standards Bill: What is it and Why does it Matter? Listen to Wellbeing Economist Paul Dalziel Unpack this Concerning Bill.
Despite first appearances this proposed legislation is anything but boring. If passed, it will become deeply important to how we "do" legislation in NZ. Economist and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa researcher Paul Dalziel joins Catherine to delve into: What is regulation? What is the aim of this bill? Will it achieve it? And is there even a problem in the first place that justifies the estimated 20 million dollar price tag?
Paul explains that the Bill is unnecessary, unfit for purpose and narrow. When setting standards there should be expert input, broad consensus and wide public consultation, none of which occurred satisfactorily in this case.
Paul's opinion, shared by many other leading academics, is that this legislation will distort the parliamentary process towards an ACT party point of view due to its narrow focus on private property rights, which is not healthy for the general debate we want to have in parliament. He comments it is concerning that other important principles are not in the Bill, like the rights of future generations for example, and we talk about the glaring absence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Essential listening for anyone wanting to learn more about this controversial Bill that experts like Sir Geoffrey Palmer has said, "is the strangest piece of NZ legislation he has ever seen."
And listen out for part 2 of this interview in October's edition.
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ACTivate - Help Keep our Young New Zealanders Safe Online - join Amnesty Aotearoa's Online Harm Campaign calling for Regulation
Listen to Lisa Woods, Amnesty's Movement building and Advocacy Director tell us that if the government is serious about addressing the real harms young people face online, banning under 16s is not the solution. Regulating tech companies is. Lisa tells us how the proposed ban misdirects attention from the systemic drivers of online harm and places the burden of online safety on young people and parents. Instead the burden needs to be firmly on the social media companies to ensure user safety, just like for other products we consume. As Parliament's inquiry into the online harm encountered by young New Zealanders is under way, now is the time to campaign for a digital environment that is safe, inclusive and empowering. The government needs to stop social media companies putting profit before the health and wellbeing of our young people.
For Amnesty's research into Meta's algorithms and Myanmar military atrocities , go to: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/09/myanmar-facebooks-systems-promoted-violence-against-rohingya-meta-owes-reparations-new-report/
Also listen out for petitions to sign: https://www.change.org/p/please-tell-gao-zhisheng-s-family-if-he-s-still-alive-453-signatures-submitted-to-date?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=750cd900-981a-11eb-8f9f-172775255d73
https://amnesty.org.nz/make-community-sponsorship-of-refugees-programme-permanent/
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ACTivate - Gaza: Is it Genocide? Professor of Peace Studies, Dr Richard Jackson says: Yes It Is and explains What Can Be Done.
Listen to part 2 of Catherine's interview with Professor Richard Jackson from Otago University (Part 1, 16 June) where he lays out the case for genocide and discusses how international institutions lack teeth, but explains that we, the people, are not helpess - there has never been a greater protest movement than right now, "we have a lot more power than we think... if we all diligently protest...and practice Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), this can have an effect".
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ACTivate - The Otago Declaration on the Situation in Palestine": How staff, students and graduates at Otago University are taking a stand for the people of Palestine
Listen to Dr Richard Jackson, Professor of Peace studies, explain how hundreds of members of Otago University have signed a declaration recognising that Israel is: committing a genocide against the Palestinian nation, operating a system of apartheid and committing scholasticide. Hear about academic boycotts against Israeli institutions and the devastating effects of scholasticide for future generations of Palestinians.
"It doesn't matter if the institute you're a part of doesn't want to do something, you can do it yourself...we the people can make our own declaration, we can take our own stand and outline our own values and priorities." "Right at this moment (the situation in Palestine) is the big issue, it's the moral test of our time."
And, later in the show, listen out for good news about pay equity - Former National MP Marilyn Waring is assembling a "people's select committee" to hear the evidence Parliament should have heard on recent pay equity changes.
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