Making Policy Under MMP: What Will Really Change?

Ruth Harrison

The focus of policy debate on MMP has been on anticipating how it will affect policy making and the public service. Policy is now being formulated and officials are working in an MMP environment, which provides the opportunity to evaluate earlier predictions. 

This paper argues that many of the required changes have already happened, and that while current systems may have been adapted, they are still working, and, more importantly, are working in an MMP environment.

The paper focuses on the power of Cabinet to drive policy, the role of consultation and negotiation in policy making and legislation, contestable policy advice, and political neutrality in the public service area.

It concludes that the period of transition to a minority government has enabled some of the system changes to be trialed and worked through (eg, the introduction of new Standing Orders), although some of the skills needed to manage in an MMP environment are still being developed, both by politicians and by public servants. The major change is likely to be in forming “negotiated policy”. The opportunity to develop policy that achieves its intended outcomes, with the acceptance of the broad electorate, is greatly enhanced under the new arrangement.