Labour MP Willie Jackson believed the bill would invite "big business" into the country and take away "community input". Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Labour MP Willie Jackson says he does not "acknowledge", "believe" or "trust" that the Regulatory Standards Bill won't give corporations more power, despite a clause saying it would not impose legal obligations.
But ACT Leader David Seymour said Jackson was wrong and "muddying" the waters.
In recent days, Seymour has made a series of social media posts singling out prominent opponents of the Bill, and accusing them of suffering from "Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome."
His targets included Jackson along with academics such as Dame Anne Salmond, Dr George Laking, and Metiria Turei.
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau accused Seymour of setting a "dangerous precedent" for how dissenting voices were treated, and laid a formal complaint with the Prime Minister.
On Monday, standing in for Christopher Luxon at a post-Cabinet press conference, Seymour dismissed the criticism, and accused the opponents of the bill of making incorrect statements.
Speaking to media, Jackson said the bill was set up for "David Seymour's mates" and would invite "big business" into New Zealand while taking away "community input".
"It's shocking, the way that he's just incorporated ACT values, libertarian values, at the expense of community values, Māaori values, New Zealand values, it's a shocking bill," Jackson said.
Clause 24 of the bill stated that the Act "does not confer a legal right or impose a legal obligation on any person that is enforceable in a court of law".
Asked if he acknowledged the bill would not impose legal obligations on people, Jackson said he still did not believe the bill nor Seymour, its architect.
"You can tell me what you think. I'll tell you what I think, and that he wants to bring in Act libertarian values. He wants to bring in corporations on boards. He wants to ignore communities. He wants to ignore Māori. He wants to ignore your average New Zealander.
"No, don't acknowledge it. Don't believe it. Don't trust it." Jackson said.
Speaking to reporters, Seymour said the bill was very clear.
David Seymour introduced the Regulatory Standards Bill. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
"It requires makers of laws to be transparent to Parliament what their law does and who it affects."
"But it is also explicit that the regulatory standards bill... says that it does not give anybody any additional legal rights."
Seymour said people "muddying the water" with misinformation were either not capable of understanding the law or deliberately making mischief.
"It's not up to Willie Jackson to interpret the law. It's up to the courts, and I suspect that when they see in black and white, there are no additional legal rights."
"The purpose of this law is to increase transparency to Parliament.... the good news is, I don't think Willie Jackson is going to become a judge anytime soon." Seymour said.
Seymour said he had taken advice about the "likely" interpretation by the courts and was satisfied there would be a strong guide for lawmakers.
University of Auckland professor Dame Anne Salmond - once New Zealander of the Year - has complained that the Acting Prime Minister breached the Cabinet Manual with the posts she claimed were aimed at silencing academics.
She told Morning Report she didn't think it was acceptable for an acting Prime Minister to "single people out" and "try and silence them".
"If a teacher, for example, posted up a picture of one kid everyday and called them the victim of the day and said they were deranged then invited the other kids to give online abuse - I don't think that is very amusing.
"For an acting Prime Minister to behave like that... yeah," she said.
Salmond added it would be "extraordinarily intimidating" for academics as it was coming from a leader of our country.
"There should be a line drawn about what's acceptable behaviour from our politicians."
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