PSA MEDIA RELEASE
February 9, 2009
For Immediate Use
PSA welcomes repeal of Electoral Finance Act

The Public Service Association welcomes the repeal of the Electoral Finance Act and says we should look at replacing it with wider state funding of election activities.

“We supported the aim of the EFA, to make the funding of election activity fairer and more transparent by preventing groups or individuals from making large donations to political parties in secret or through trusts,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

The need for this was highlighted by the secret election campaign run by the Exclusive Brethren during the 2005 election.

“But the EFA proved to be a very difficult law to work with. Complying with the Act was far too complicated and we welcome its repeal,” says Brenda Pilott.

The PSA also welcomes the government’s move to have cross-party consultation to develop a new electoral law.

“It’s our view that the political parties should look at wider state funding of election activities,” says Brenda Pilott.

Taxpayers already fund certain political party activities such as TV broadcasts during election campaigns.

“This is transparent, subject to scrutiny and accepted as part of the support for our democratic structure,” says Brenda Pilott.

“Extending state funding to cover election campaigns would enable parties to legitimately present their views to the electorate while ensuring that no party has an undue advantage.”

“We believe this would help ensure New Zealand has an election process that is robust, fair and transparent,” says Brenda Pilott.

ENDS

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