16 C
Auckland
Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Popular Now

Govt mandates jargon cutback

Plain Language Bill news

The Plain Language Bill will appoint ‘plain language officers’ to police politicians’ speech for sesquipedalianism.

Government officials in New Zealand will be required to cut back on jargon and “complicated English words” in their public-facing messaging, under the Plain Language Bill passed by Parliament on Wednesday. It requires royal assent to take effect.

The legislation defines plain language as “clear, concise and well organized” language that is “appropriate to the intended audience.” All reporting agencies will be required to appoint “plain language officers” responsible for ensuring compliance and interfacing with the public. These speech police will report to the Public Service Commissioner within six months of the law taking effect with their findings, and will deliver yearly compliance reports.

The measure aims to create a “more inclusive democracy” by ensuring those who speak English as a second language, who are marginally literate, or have disabilities can participate in government. Backed by the Labour, Green, and Maori parties, it has met with opposition from the National and ACT parties, with National MP Simeon Brown describing it as “a solution looking for a problem.” The legislation will create bureaucracy by adding an unnecessary layer of civil servants at a time when the state employs a record number of people, critics said, complaining about a lack of enforcement protocols and arguing that a law shouldn’t be needed to motivate officials to speak plainly.

The benefits apparently outweigh the risks for the majority of New Zealand MPs, however. “People living in New Zealand have a right to understand what the government is asking them to do, and what their rights are,” Labour MP Rachel Boyack said during a debate on the issue.

Promoted Content

Source:RT News

No login required to comment. Name, email and web site fields are optional. Please keep comments respectful, civil and constructive. Moderation times can vary from a few minutes to a few hours. Comments may also be scanned periodically by Artificial Intelligence to eliminate trolls and spam.

8 COMMENTS

  1. Would be good if the person answering wasn’t trying to mislead the audience in the first place. Answers would be clear and to the point

  2. >Safe and effective
    >If you take it you will not get infected or infect others
    >Russia started it
    >Most secure ever
    >Most transparent
    Maybe they should also pass a law that fact checks [Lies] their statements

  3. who are the idiots in bureaucracy who have nothing better to do with their time then make up nonsense! how about releasing the pfizer contract, that will help nzers understand the reason for ever increasing death count due to the jab! use our tax dollars for things we want to know not the bs reasons we have had for the last two years! time to clear the swamp of the idiots in parliament!

  4. I suggest that the government forget about this bill and introduce one that prevents obfuscation, hyperbole and downright lies from the PM down. Then find teachers that can teach students to read and write and forget about the communist indoctrination.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest

Trending

Sport

Daily Life

Opinion

Wellington
light rain
13.9 ° C
14.8 °
13.3 °
93 %
5.7kmh
100 %
Tue
14 °
Wed
15 °
Thu
16 °
Fri
16 °
Sat
15 °