About this episode

Eric discusses with Prof Chris Berg the Australian regulatory ideas that New Zealand is considering and their potential implications.

In this episode, Eric talks with Prof Chris Berg from RMIT University about the Australian regulatory ideas New Zealand has considered importing, from the news media bargaining regime to the under-16 social media ban and prescription-only vaping. They discuss how policies sold as protecting journalism, children or public health can instead create rent-seeking, surveillance, black markets and unworkable rules.

People in this episode

Host: Eric

Guest: Prof Chris Berg

Topics covered

• regulatory ideas
• media bargaining
• social media ban
• public health
• vaping
• rent-seeking
• black markets

Keywords

• Australia
• New Zealand
• regulation
• media
• social media
• vaping
• public health

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RMIT University

Places: New Zealand, Australia

More episodes of The New Zealand Initiative

• Budget 2026: The fingers crossed budget · May 28, 2026 · 33 min
• Beyond Targets: Helping communities get the economics of their plans right · May 25, 2026 · 46 min
• Splendid isolation meets geopolitical reality · May 19, 2026 · 31 min
• Who keeps the courts in their lane? · May 14, 2026 · 30 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The New Zealand Initiative podcast page.