Voter's Voice Policy: Enhancing Democratic Accountability

Objective: To streamline democratic processes, ensuring laws reflect the will of the people, uphold universal rights, and promote effective governance through increased public involvement and oversight.

Clarifying Governance Principles
Voter's Voice aims to address the confusion around governance by:
Legislating Treaty Principles: We propose a clear, public-voted legislation defining the Treaty of Waitangi principles based on the original text, not interpretations, ensuring transparency and inclusivity.
Repealing Discriminatory Legislation: Immediate action to repeal laws like Three Waters(repealed in Feb 2024), local government representation, and parts of Pae Ora that allocate rights based on identity, promoting equality under the law.
Equal Opportunity in Public Services: Shift public service focus from racial targeting to evidence-based equal opportunity, with policies like the Equity Index for school funding, ensuring fairness in public resource allocation.

Regulatory Standards Act - Voter's Voice Edition
Voter's Voice introduces a refined Regulatory Standards Act:
Core Principles of Lawmaking: New laws must be justified by answering:
Purpose of the law?
Is it addressing a unique issue?
Has there been public consultation?
Do benefits outweigh costs?
Who benefits and who bears the cost?
Impact on property rights?
Consequences of non-compliance?
Public Accountability: If laws are found non-compliant, citizens or groups can seek judicial review for a declaration of inconsistency, fostering accountability without nullifying laws, but encouraging lawmakers to consider public impact.
Public Endorsement: This Bill will be subject to a public referendum, ensuring it reflects the collective will of New Zealanders, similar to the End of Life Choice Act, making lawmaking a participatory process.

Extended Parliamentary Term with Conditions
Voter's Voice supports extending parliamentary terms to four years, contingent on:
Independent Select Committees: This extension requires that select committees become independent, with opposition parties holding the majority to enhance scrutiny:
Enhanced Scrutiny: Committees will critically assess government proposals, ensuring robust debate and public representation.
Empowered Opposition: Opposition MPs gain more influence, ensuring government policies are thoroughly questioned.
Public Involvement: The public can have confidence that their input through submissions can lead to legislative changes.

Implementation
Public Engagement: Each policy change will involve extensive public consultation to ensure they align with the needs and values of New Zealanders.
Transparency: Regular updates and public forums will keep citizens informed about the progress and impact of these reforms.

Conclusion: Voter's Voice's policy framework aims to rebuild our democracy by making it more accountable, transparent, and reflective of public will. By integrating these reforms, we ensure that New Zealanders have a significant role in shaping laws that affect their lives, promoting a government that truly represents and serves its people.

Act can take credit for this policy as this represents a fair approach to restoring democracy where it has been eroded.