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Greens descend into tragic comedy


Nick Smith - Electoral Law

27 July 2018


Today’s statement by Green Co-Leader Marama Davidson that the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill is a ‘threat to democracy’ and ‘anti-democratic’ but they will be voting for it takes New Zealand politics to a new low, National’s Electoral Law Spokesperson Nick Smith says.

“The stated purpose of the bill is to ensure MPs stick to their party’s principles once elected to Parliament. It is the ultimate irony that to become law an entire party is to vote against its own principles.

“Ms Davidson cannot argue this is a compromise - it is a sell-out. The select committee had over 20 amendments recommended by officials and submitters, but Government members made plain the bill had to be passed unchanged to satisfy Winston Peters.

“These amendments could have put a check on the power of a party leader to dismiss an MP or made the law time limited as occurred with the 2001 Act.

“It is a tragic comedy when a bill that is titled ‘electoral integrity’ is to become law by eight MPs voting for it but who state that it is a threat to democracy. It would be laughable were it not such a serious risk to New Zealand’s parliamentary democracy.”

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