March For Democracy

March For Democracy
John Boscawen MP, ACT New Zealand
Friday, October 23 2009

It’s a tragedy that, just two years after rallying together in my ‘March For Democracy’ against the Government’s Electoral Finance Act, New Zealanders are now forced to ‘March For Democracy’ against a new Government that blatantly refuses to listen to the very people who elected it to office, ACT New Zealand MP John Boscawen said today.

“National thought the recent referendum results could be ignored and that New Zealanders would forget - but the full-page ad in today’s New Zealand Herald advertising a ‘March For Democracy’ on November 21 2009 shows otherwise,” Mr Boscawen said.

“This issue won't go away – 87 percent of Kiwis voted ‘No’, asserting that a smack shouldn't be a criminal offence. My Private Members Bill achieves that, yet National refuses to support it. It is Parliament that is responsible for making the law and if this law is flawed - as the Prime Minister agrees - then it’s Parliament's job to fix it.

“Two years ago New Zealanders marched on the streets against a ‘we know best’ Labour-led Government that refused to listen to its citizens. Labour paid the price for this at the last election. Now, barely one year later, New Zealanders are forced to march against a new Government that in this case has proven no better than its predecessor.

“It’s great to see New Zealanders coming together to exercise their right to democracy and I wish the organisers of this event all the best,” Mr Boscawen said.

ENDS