Mitchell Mark: Regulatory Reform Bill Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill — Second Readings 
Mitchell Mark: Regulatory Reform Bill Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill — Second Readings 
[Advance Copy - Subject to minor change before inclusion in Bound Volume.] 
MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) 
: 
 I am very pleased to take a call on the Regulatory Reform Bill and the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill. For a nation this legislation is very important in terms of contributing towards growth productivity and international competitiveness and boosting living standards. 
Last Friday I launched my business forum series in my home electorate of Rodney. We had Rodney’s business leaders of large medium and small businesses gathered together along with our local budding entrepreneurs. Our discussions were based around identifying new opportunities expanding on existing ones looking for synergies and joint venture potential how to expand our exports and tradable sector networking and developing policy to enable and strengthen business in our communities. A big part of achieving a more competitive environment is through better regulation less red tape and reducing compliance costs. Better and/or less regulation will assist our New Zealand businesses to become more internationally competitive. 
In my experience overseas we will continue to compete in an ever more demanding and competitive global economy. This Government understands that and is making all the right moves to ensure that the people and businesses responsible for taking our great New Zealand products services and innovative ideas to the global market are provided with a strong regulatory platform that helps make them competitive. Much of the poor regulation we have been afflicted with has been a hodgepodge that has never subsequently been challenged. This Government has been the first to systematically address these issues. 
The people working hard to grow their businesses and create employment in my electorate are encouraged to see that this Government continues to make moves to create high-quality regulation. We are small and a long way from what are important markets for us. However we do proudly punch above our weight and we need to offer a better policy environment to help overcome those economic disadvantages. Some good examples of these are the improvements that have been made to the Resource Management Act the electricity sector transport communications and ACC. 
The Regulatory Reform Bill contains amendments to 13 Acts removing duplication disposing of unnecessary requirements clearing up inconsistencies and reducing regulatory burdens. In short this bill will make life easier for businesses. When I was addressing my business forum on Friday I talked about this bill and how important it is as one of the building blocks for what we are trying to achieve in Rodney. It gave me great pride to be able to report that this Government is continuing to address and remove possible barriers to growth. For example amendments to the Companies Act will enable companies to hold shareholder meetings with the use of the internet and will allow electronic voting. This has the potential to save New Zealand companies a total of $1.5 million a year. Also the bill amends the Unit Trusts Act 1960 so that financial statements and accounts can be distributed electronically. Changes to the Conservation Act will allow time limits to be set within which applications for concessions must be processed. This makes it much easier for businesses to plan and budget. Changes to the Statistics Act will allow greater access to Statistics New Zealand’s information by researchers universities and firms. 
Finally I am passionate about making our businesses stronger and more competitive on the global stage. As a result I am pleased to commend this legislation back from the Commerce Committee.