Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

ACT's Attack On Spending Constraints 'Predictable'

27 May 2001
Lee Says ACT's Attack On Spending Constraints 'Predictable'


The Minister of Local Government , Hon Sandra Lee, says claims that the news media might be gagged under provisions in the new Local Electoral Act are "drawing a long bow".

"There is no intention of gagging news media freedom of speech under any of the new legislation's provisions," Ms Lee said. "I will be seeking further advice on the issue from the Crown Law Office this week."

"In order for Government policy on limits on local authority candidates electoral expenses to be effective, the new legislation has made provision to stop other people from publishing electoral material on behalf of a candidate in order to get around the expense limits applying to that candidate."

Ms Lee said section 128 of the new Local Electoral Act, dealing with unauthorised expenditure, makes it an offence carrying a maximum fine of $1000 if any person "publishes or broadcasts any material promoting the election of any candidate without the written authority of the candidate or the candidate's agent".

"This provision came from a draft Bill submitted by the local government sector," she said. "There were no submissions to the Justice and Electoral select committee on this provision, including from news media, when these were called earlier this year."

"I have been advised by the Department of Internal Affairs and the Parliamentary Counsel's Office that ACT MP Stephen Franks' media gagging interpretation of this section, which he raised in last week's Parliamentary debate on the legislation, is misleading," Ms Lee said. "I am advised by officials the issue was not raised at the earlier select committee stage."

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"The particular section, which Mr Franks has selectively interpreted, is not intended to relate to news media commentaries on candidates or campaigns ," she said. "Rather it is aimed at ensuring that a cap on a candidate's campaign expenditure is not subverted."

"It would be a travesty of local democracy if big spending candidates, or big spending parties like ACT if they ever decided to fund local authority candidates openly or secretly, got two bites of the cherry," she said.

"This provision is aimed at preventing a candidate running one campaign where funding and support resources are open to scrutiny, and a second parallel campaign involving so-called supporters who produce material promoting the candidate using secret funding sources."

"In my opinion, this ACT 'beat-up' of one of the new laws on candidate spending and promotion is predictable given that it was reported in the Sunday Star Times last month that a group of New Zealand's richest men secretly bankrolled ACT's 1996 election campaign in a scheme set up to avoid disclosing their identity and the amount of their donations," Ms Lee said.

"The commencement of the Local Electoral Act is yet to be set by the Governor-General by Order in Council, she said. "It is a long bow to raise this provision as a threat to freedom of speech. I am determined to ensure that effective limits on candidates' election expenses will be well established in time for the October local authority elections."

Ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.