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Thread ID: 112636 2010-09-15 05:00:00 Emergency Legislation - Thoughts? Erayd (23) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1137292 2010-09-15 05:00:00 Hi all,

I'd be interested to know what you guys think about the new legislation (www.legislation.govt.nz) that has just been unanimously passed by parliament.
While a few concerns were raised, every single MP voted in favour of the new Act.

This Act passed through the entire parliamentary process, not under urgency, in a single day.
Erayd (23)
1137293 2010-09-15 05:12:00 Christchurch needs it. DeSade (984)
1137294 2010-09-15 05:18:00 Clever politicians:

18 Exclusion of commissioners' liability

A commissioner is not liable for any act done or omitted to be done by him or her in good faith in the performance or intended performance of his or her functions, responsibilities, or duties as a commissioner, or in the exercise or intended exercise of his or her powers as a commissioner.
Strommer (42)
1137295 2010-09-15 06:56:00 Its all good
I f they had the dumb resource management act 100 years ago nothing would have got built here.
prefect (6291)
1137296 2010-09-15 08:10:00 Wow... you guys are far more trusting than I'd guessed. Over three hours, and nobody's even mentioned section six! Erayd (23)
1137297 2010-09-15 08:31:00 I'm not so trusting. It looks like another poorly drafted Bill to me. Just one of many that has been passed by various Governments previously on poor advice from advisors that we can't vote out anyway. You would hope that the elected MPs would have enough nous to see though the advice and think through the consequences but not so apparently.

Many people on this Forum have gone on record to say they don't and won't vote in Elections both Central and Local but seem to more than willing to complain about what they finish up getting. Local Govt elections are coming up soon and in spite of publicity about same a straw poll indicated that most people did not know when this was being held.
Snorkbox (15764)
1137298 2010-09-15 09:30:00 Wow . . . you guys are far more trusting than I'd guessed . Over three hours, and nobody's even mentioned section six!

Just read it now - so c'mon Erayd - stop teasing us with pointed posts . . . . what's your concern? :)

Is it the fact that the invocation of this act effectively trumps all other legislation in 6 . 4?
nofam (9009)
1137299 2010-09-15 09:43:00 6.3 The recommendation of the relevant Minister may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed, or called into question in any court.
That is a fairly well covered arse, and I'm not sure that is a good, or necessary, idea at all.
fred_fish (15241)
1137300 2010-09-15 09:44:00 Just read it now - so c'mon Erayd - stop teasing us with pointed posts . . . . what's your concern? :)

Is it the fact that the invocation of this act effectively trumps all other legislation in 6 . 4?Nope - that's not what worries me .

The issue I have with it is the precedent it sets . It basically relies on the "politics of good faith" to work correctly, and places a huge amount of trust in the integrity of those to whom it grants power . There are politicians involved . . .

While I have no doubt that the current lot will largely respect the spirit with which this Act was passed (to do anything else is electoral suicide), granting such sweeping powers with very limited oversight & accountability is the start of a *very* slippery slope .

Sure, something like this is obviously needed to rebuild Christchurch - but I personally feel that this particular case goes several steps too far .

Interestingly, most people I've talked to don't share my view - so I figured I'd jump on the web and see what all the fine people here thought, and possibly get an interesting debate out of it too :D .
Erayd (23)
1137301 2010-09-15 09:54:00 You may not have been following the sacking of the whole of the Environment Canterbury council Erayd, and the imposition of a government appointed cabal headed by Margaret Bazely.

Canterbury thus had its democratically elected environmental regulatory body overthrown on the shonkiest of grounds. We still have to pay rates to that body despite the fact that none of us have representation any more.

All done by courtesy of the right wing mayors down here, including Sideshow Bob; as well as MPs like Nick Smith, David Carter, Gerry Brownlee, and John Key. All in favour of farmers getting control of our water for irrigation.

So in Canterbury we have experienced this before, and we now have the right wing government foisting another undemocratic process on us. I will be surprised if there are any National MPs left down here after the next election, apart from those representing redneck farmers.
John H (8)
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