22 March 2016

Time to change Governor General appointment process

It’s time for a new, more democratic process for appointing New Zealand’s Governor General – an appointment which should be confirmed by a supermajority of Parliament, the Green Party says.

“The Green Party congratulates Dame Patsy Reddy who has today been announced as the Prime Ministers’ choice for Governor General, but we think future appointments should rest on 75 percent support of Parliament,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“By requiring the support of a supermajority of the House to confirm a new Governor General, the Prime Minister would need to consult with all political parties and properly make their case for the person they chose.

“The Governor General should be the best person for the job, not a person who the Government of the day likes for political reasons.

“The Green Party was surprised by the choice of Dame Patsy, who has just finished the highly controversial review of spy agencies which recommended much wider powers to spy on ordinary New Zealanders.

“In 2010, former Green MP Keith Locke put up an amendment which, if passed, would have ensured that the Governor General’s appointment was confirmed by a 75 percent supermajority of Parliament.

“A Governor General can be in the role through two different prime ministers and it’s important that they are not politically wedded to either,” Mrs Turei said.

ends

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