Electoral Finance Bill a dramatic threat to free speech, says Direct Democracy.

“If ever there was a time for the people of New Zealand to rise up and defend what is left of our Democratic right to free speech and alternative opinion, that time is now” says Deputy Leader of the Direct Democracy Party, Steve Taylor.

“The Labour Government, with apparent cross-party support, is proposing an Electoral Finance Bill.

In this “Stasi-like” piece of legislation, the Labour Government proposes:

1. Changing the period of time during which spending is regulated from 90 days before the election to 1 January of election year ( a period of up to 11 months)

2. Restricting the amount third parties can spend on “election advertising” to $60,000.

3. Introducing a new definition of “election advertising” which includes “taking a position on a proposition with which 1 or more parties or 1 or more candidates is associated”

“Essentially, what this will mean is that criticism of any Government both current and future and any dissent against its policies will be effectively minimised and silenced”.

“In an Election year, the ruling Government Party will have up to 11 months free reign to utilise taxpayers money for advertising and promotion of policy and personnel; other political parties will not”.

“Third party lobby or interest groups will be shackled by a $60,000 spending limit for the entire time (which over 11 months equates to less than 2 full page ads in a newspaper, or less than 2 TV spots in prime time)”.

“To top this off, Paragraph (a)(iii) of the Electoral Finance Bill says an election advertisements includes “taking a position on a proposition with which 1 or more parties or 1 or more candidates is associated” – hence, even a lone protestor or lobbyist can unwittingly fall foul of this legislation.

“It is one thing to stack the deck in an Election year (remember the illegal spending by Labour on the Pledge cards?) – it is quite another to claim ownership of the cards, the players, and the rules of the game – this legislation is a direct threat against fundamental Democratic principles of free speech, regardless of where one may be on the political spectrum”.

“This legislation must die a swift and efficient death, otherwise it is democracy itself that will suffer the consequences – along with the people of New Zealand” says Mr Taylor.

ENDS

www.ddp.co.nz

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