Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson today introduced a Supplementary Order Paper to give effect to government plans to end party hopping.

The proposals have the support of the government and New Zealand First and have already been outlined by the Prime Minister.

Under the Electoral (Integrity) Bill now before Parliament, MPs who write to the Speaker advising that they have resigned from their parties must leave Parliament.

The Government Supplementary Order Paper ensures that any MP who leaves his or her party or otherwise acts in a way that distorts the proportionality of political party representation in Parliament will cease to be a Member of Parliament.

"This law means that the intentions of the electorate of more than two million voters cannot be undermined for years by the actions of individuals. This will build public confidence in the stability of the New Zealand parliamentary system. The people's choice must be respected," said Margaret Wilson.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>