Eff'nhell, National...

[harm_less]

A couple of examples:

1. Regulations for ceiling insulation have increased for new builds. Sounds fine until you look into the fact that thicker insulation still needs its air gap around it so can't go as far into the edges of the ceiling space as it used to. So now a new structure of roof trusses is needed. More expense when everyone is already claiming that housing is unaffordable. Should have been left as it was. It was enough to be practical while balancing affordability.

2. The news was full of the Gib shortage causing havoc (and all the greedy people selling what they could get at exorbitant prices). One of the problems is that the architects now have to specify exactly what product is going to be used in every part of the build - and do so down to brand level. So if you can't buy that brand right now, the whole build is held up. Instead of compounding Winstone's monopoly it would be better if brand names were banned from plans, instead citing the standards that need to be met by the products used. Then there would have been no problem as there were always suitable alternatives available.

These are just 2 of MANY instances where there has been far too much government control over the minutiae of daily life.

Yes, the government has a majority (which is why it's the governing party) but the processes for legislation provide for and require debate and consultation. During the pandemic the expert advice from all quarters of the health sector was sought, received and acted upon with the best balance between conflicting needs. That should be happening for all legislation. But isn't. Even when submissions are called for, so often the advice of experts is totally ignored and the changes are railroaded through their three readings. And the opposition parties don't do enough to debate everything as they should. Remember, even when they might actually agree, the point of debate is to seek out and discuss every eventuality so that the right action goes forward for the right reasons. This simply does not happen. Which is why we have ended up in such a mess with housing costing a fortune, and so on.

I know what you mean about specifications on building permits reading like a shopping list of brand name products. I suspect that the bollocking that the Councils received as a result of the 'leaky homes' saga now has them running scared and so micro-managing inputs into projects they are putting code compliance certification to. This situation must been seen by the corporate suppliers of building materials as a licence to print money.