30 July 2004

Grant Gillon, Progressive President

80% of laws gain broad support; MMP is working

Progressive Party president Grant Gillon says it is good news for democracy that MMP continues to be a more popular voting system than first-past-the-post because Mixed Member Proportional is much more democratic and representative electoral system.

"The MMP electoral system attracted 43% support in the latest NBR Phillips Fox poll, compared with 40% support for the first-past-the-post system which delivered us Muldoonism and Rogernomics.

"It is incumbent on political parties to do their best to ensure MMP works for people. And I believe that, on balance, most political parties generally are trying to ensure the system works as best it can," Grant Gillon said.

"The proof of that is the voting record in Parliament.

"Of the 100 or so contested laws that have been enacted since the July 2002 election, 80% have secured the support of more than one Opposition party even though Labour-Progressive legislation in fact only requires one non-government party's support to be successful.

"That is a tribute to the success of the coalition government's democratic engagement with Parliament, but also a sign that all parties in Parliament are participating in putting together better laws for New Zealand," Grant Gillon said.

Background

The Labour Party holds 51 seats in Parliament and Progressive two seats.
In the 2002-2005 Parliament, Labour is in coalition with Progressive and the 53-member Labour- Progressive coalition government has a confidence and supply agreement with the eight-member Opposition United Party.
That takes care of the coalition's ability to pass its budgets and govern, but to enact any other legislation the coalition government needs the support of at least one of the five Opposition parties (or eight votes) to pass.
www.progressive.org.nz

Summary of voting on the Third Readings of Labour-Progressive coalition government legislation to indicate parties providing support to the government

Date Legislation Support provided by

1 18 Sep ’02 Social Security (Personal Development United Future, Green
and Employment) Amendment

2 03 Oct ’02 Customs and Excise Amendment United Future, Green

3 08 Oct’02 Taxation (Relief, Refunds and United Future, Green
Miscellaneous Provisions)

4 Civil Defence Emergency Management United Future, Green,
National, NZ First

5 Terrorism Suppression United Future, ACT,
National, NZ First

6 Crown Organisations (Criminal United Future, Green,
Liability) NZ First

7 13 Nov ’02 Climate Change Response Green

8 19 Nov ’02 Appropriation (2002/03 Estimates) United Future

9 Securities Amendment United Future,
10 Securities Markets Amendment Green, NZ First
11 Takeovers Amendment

12 Trade Marks United Future, Green

13 05 Dec ’02 Education (Tertiary Reform) Amendment Green
14 Industry Training Amendment Green

15 12 Dec ’02 Animal Welfare Amendment United Future, ACT,
National, NZ First

16 17 Dec ’02 Local Government United Future, Green
17 Local Electoral United Future, Green

18 Health & Safety in Employment Green
Amendment

19 27 Feb ’03 Television New Zealand United Future, Green

20 19 Mar ’03 Appropriation (2001/02 Financial Review) United Future, Green
21 25 Mar‘03 Taxation (Maori Organisations, Taxpayer United Future, Green
Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions)
22 Taxation (Annual Rates of Income Tax United Future, Green
2002-03)
23 Student Loan Scheme Amendment United Future, Green
24 Child Support Amendment United Future, Green

25 27 Mar’03 Government Communications Security United Future,
Bureau National, NZ First, ACT

26 01 Apr’03 Land Transport (Unauthorised Street United Future,
and Drag Racing) Amendment National, NZ First
27 Motor Vehicle Sales United Future,
National, Green
28 The Treaty of Waitangi Amendment United Future,
National, NZ First, Green
29 Social Workers Registration United Future,
National, NZ First, Green

30 01 May’03 Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement United Future,
National, NZ First, Green
31 06 May’03 Maori Television Service Green, Donna Awatere

32 Customs and Excise (Alcoholic United Future, Green
Beverages) Amendment

33 13 May’03 Resource Management Amendment United Future
(No. 2)
34 Approval of Order under Misuse of United Future, National,
Drugs Act 1975 NZ First, ACT

35 12 Jun’03 Debate on performance and current United Future, Green*
operations of Crown entities, public
organisations and State enterprises

* subsequently the Green Party altered their vote to oppose the motion

36 Minimum Wage Amendment NZ First, Green

37 18 Jun’03 Appropriation (2002/03 Supplementary United Future
Estimates) and
38 Imprest Supply (First For 2003/04) United Future

39 NZ Trade and Enterprise United Future,
National, NZ First

40 26 Jun ’03 Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Green
and Compensation Amendment
41 01 Jul’03 Immigration Amendment (No. 2) United Future

42 Fair Trading Amendment (No 3) United Future,
National, NZ First, Green

43 Commerce Amendment United Future,
NZ First, Green

44 Consumer Guarantees Amendment United Future,
NZ First, Green
45 Fair Trading Amendment United Future,
NZ First, Green
46 Sale of Goods Amendment United Future,
NZ First, Green

47 Crimes Amendment (No. 6) United Future,
National, NZ First, ACT

48 Wool Industry Restructuring United Future,
National, NZ First, ACT

49 29 Jul’03 State Sector Amendment United Future,
Green
50 06 Aug’03 Appropriation (2003/04 Estimates) United Future

51 14 Aug’03 Crown Minerals Amendment Green

52 04 Sep’03 Immigration Amendment United Future

53 11 Sep’03 Health Practitioners Competence Ass. United Future,
Medicines Amendment Green

54 11 Sep’03 Gambling United Future

55 14 Oct’03 Supreme Court Green

56 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms United Future
Amendment, National, ACT
57 Agricultural Compounds United Future,
National, ACT

58 Veterinary Medicines Amendment (No. 2) United Future,
National, ACT

59 Medicines Amedment No. 2 United Future,
National, ACT

60 Biosecurity Amendment (No. 2) – United Future,
National, ACT

61 21 Oct’03 Crimes Amendment United Future
National, NZ First, ACT

62 Terrorism Suppression Amendment United Future
National, NZ First, ACT

63 Misuse of Drugs Amendment United Future,
National, NZ First, ACT

64 NZ Security Intelligence Service United Future,
Amendment National, NZ First, ACT

65 Sentencing Amendment United Future,
National, NZ First, ACT

66 Summary Proceedings Amendment United Future
National, NZ First

67 Copyright (Parallel Importation of Films United Future
and Onus of Proof) Amendment NZ First, Green

68 Retirement Villages United Future
National, NZ First, Green

69 Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) United Future
Amendment National, NZ First, ACT

70 Wine United Future
National, NZ First, Green
71 21 Oct’03 Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired United Future
Persons) Green

72 06 Nov’03 Land Transport Management United Future
Green

73 13 Nov’03 Dog Control Amendment United Future
National, NZ First, Green

74 18 Nov’03 Children’s Commissioner United Future
National, NZ First, Green

75 19 Nov’03 Taxation (Annual Rates of Income Tax United Future
2003-04) Green

76 20 Nov ’03 Ngati Tama Claims Settlement United Future
National, NZ First, Green, Awatere

77 11 Dec ’03 Families Commission United Future

78 16 Dec ’03 Holidays NZ First, Green

79 25 Feb’04 Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities United Future
Amendment National, NZ First, Green

80 26 Feb’04 Resource Management (Energy and Climate United Future,
Change) Amendment Green

81 02 Mar’04 Health (National Cervical Screening United Future,
Programme Amendment National, NZ First, ACT

82 17 Mar’04 Resource Management (Aquaculture United Future,
Moratorium Extension) Amendment NZ First, Green

83 30 Mar’04 State Sector Amendment United Future,
NZ First

84 Radio New Zealand Amendment United Future,
Green

85 Telecommunications (Interception United Future,
Capability) National, NZ First, ACT, Awatere

86 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra United Future,
NZ First, Green

87 Sale of Liquor Amendment United Future,
National, NZ First, Green

88 06 Apr’04 Reserve Bank Funding Agreement United Future,
NZ First, Green

89 08 Apr’04 Income Tax United Future,
National, NZ First, Green

90 09 Apr’04 No Confidence United Future

91 11 May’04 Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Green

92 13 May’04 Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Green
Judicial Conduct Panel
Children, Young Persons, and Their
Amendment (No. 2)
Courts Martial Appeals Amendment (No. 2)
District Courts Amendment (No. 3)
Employment Relations Amendment
Family Courts Amendment
Judicature Amendment (No.2)
Resource Amendment Bill (No. 2)
Summary Proceedings Amendment (No. 2)
Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment

93 Forests Amendment United Future,
National, Green

94 26 May ’04 Corrections Green

95 27 May ’04 Social Security (Working for Families) United Future,
Amendment Green

96 Taxation (Working for Families) United Future,
NZ First, Green

97 17 Jun ’04 Appropriation (2004/05 Estimates) United Future

98 23 Jun’04 Appropriation (2003/04 Supplementary United Future
Estimates) and
99 23 Jun'04 Imprest Supply (First for 2004/05) United Future

100 29 June’04 Customs and Excise Amendment Green

101 Immigration Amendment United Future,
National, NZ First, ACT, Awatere

102 Local Government (Auckland) Amendment United Future,
NZ First, Green

103 Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment United Future,
National, Green (5 MPs)*
(* Four Green MPs voted against)

104 Sentencing Amendment (No. 2) United Future,
National, Green (5)*

105 Mercenary Activities (Prohibition) United Future,
Green

Ends

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