The failure of regulators confounds. At one level it is accepted that regulators cannot prevent all the harms that arise within regulatory systems they are responsible for. For the most part, therefore, regulators seem able to carry on with their roles without criticism despite imperfect, or even unknown, regulatory outcomes.

Yet periodically some event occurs for which a regulator is criticised and blamed for not preventing. The frequent result is the metaphorical ‘bankruptcy’ of the regulator. This can include dismissal of regulatory chief executives, boards and responsible ministers. Sometimes it involves loss of particular regulatory responsibilities. Not infrequently it extends to disestablishment and reconstitution of the regulator itself.

Why is it that such a particular event, among many similar, has this dramatic consequence for the regulator and those associated with it?  The research project explores ‘regulator failure’ in the hope of an understanding and explanation which assists regulators in avoiding it.

This seminar is George's Confirmation of Candidature milestone presentation. As such, the presentation is a closed event for RegNet staff, visitors and students only.

About the speaker

George Mason has over 30 years’ experience in the New Zealand government in legal, policy, and regulatory roles with a focus on human rights, workplace health and safety, labour, immigration, and refugee law. He has previously worked in New Zealand’s Department (and later) Ministry of Justice and its former Department of Labour. He is currently employed as the Director Regulatory Environment in the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. The Ministry has responsibility for some 20 regulatory systems and the Director role involves supporting strategies and activity within and across those systems.

COVID protocols

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This seminar presentation is in-person only. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing any longer.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Photo of smoke plumes from spill-response crews gathering and burning oil in the Gulf of Mexico, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, by Dr. Oscar Garcia (Florida State University) from flickr, used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 licence.