Lee Melissa: Regulatory Standards Bill — First Reading 
Lee Melissa: Regulatory Standards Bill — First Reading 
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MELISSA LEE (National) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to rise to speak to the Regulatory Standards Bill in its first reading. New Zealand needs to lift its economic performance and on this side of the House we are firmly focused on that. Only by lifting our economic performance can we better the lot of all Kiwi residents in this country Aotearoa by creating jobs improving incomes for New Zealanders improving living standards and improving the public services that Kiwis actually deserve. This is especially so because New Zealand is a very small country. It is a small country compared with some other big countries such as the United States for example. We are at the bottom of the globe far away from many of our trading nations. Hence we are economically disadvantaged by being so far away and we need to attract and retain the talent pool that is increasingly mobile around the world. We have heard about many Kiwis leaving our shores for better jobs overseas; we need to be able to retain them. We need to attract them and retain them. 
Skills technology entrepreneurship and capital are all things we need to grow so that our economy continues to grow. New Zealand needs to grow. Although the Opposition leader seems to think that our recession actually ended in 2009 we know how difficult it has been for most New Zealanders and we need to improve the lot of New Zealanders. That is exactly what the National-led Government is doing. 
To give us a competitive edge we also need a better policy environment than can be found anywhere else in the world. Cutting red tape and regulations is an integral part of this Government’s drive for stronger economic growth making it easier for New Zealand companies to do what they do best. To help them along the Government has put in place an annual programme to clean up regulation. It has simplified a number of laws—I think it was some 170 laws—and has established a Productivity Commission. It is not just businesses that are affected by regulation; everyday New Zealanders are also affected by regulation in all areas of their lives. We want regulations to help to ensure that we all live in a safer country that we have safe lives that we get treated fairly in this country that we are all equal under one law that we protect and manage our environment so that our children can also enjoy it in the future and that we have a competitive and efficient economy that will achieve a better living standard for all Kiwis. We have already removed 170 unnecessary regulations from the law books amended more than 20 Acts of Parliament and are in the process of amending another 13 Acts. 
The work of the Productivity Commission will also lift New Zealand’s economic performance in both the public and private sectors. Established in April this year the two inquiries it will undertake are in housing affordability and international freight services. Both of these areas affect New Zealand’s international competitiveness. The commission will report back early next year and I look forward to that. 
The Regulatory Standards Bill has its origins as a member’s bill back in 2006 as previous speakers and the Minister for Regulatory Reform who introduced the bill have said. Although the Commerce Committee considered it back in 2008 it was deemed not ready to be passed in this House. I believe we should support this bill because there needs to be transparency in regulation making. The accountability that this bill promotes is what we are doing and what we do every day. I support this bill. Thank you.