15082 (2025). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Associate Minister of Finance

15082 (2025). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Associate Minister of Finance: Does the minister consider that all people affected by a proposal should be consulted when policy is being developed; if so why was the consultation of the Natural Hazards Commission levy targeted only?

Hon David Seymour: I believe it is important that people affected by policy have the opportunity to be heard. In this case, a targeted consultation was considered to strike the best balance between timely action and informed decision-making, given the current risks under existing settings. It enabled timely engagement with representative groups, supported a more streamlined process, and allowed for earlier decisions on the taxpayer/levy-payer risk share, helping to avoid prolonged risk to the Crown and taxpayers.