Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Labour and Greens Now Supporting Binding Referendums?

6 March 2012

Labour and Greens Now Supporting Binding Referendums?

Family First NZ says that both Labour and the Green party appear to be supporting binding citizen initiated referendums, and are calling on them to join with NZ First and ACT to pass the appropriate legislation.

Labour MP Phil Goff, when promoting a petition last month calling for a Citizen’s Initiated Referendum on the partial asset sales plan, said “Having a referendum is one way we can show Mr Key he doesn’t have a mandate to sell assets.”

And Greens Co-Leader Russell Norman said “…..we live in a democracy and so people in this country believe they’ve got a right to have their views heard…it would be better to have a binding referendum but we're using what we've got.”

Family First NZ National Director Bob McCoskrie says:

“We are stoked that both the Greens and Labour feel that Referendums should be listened to by the government of the day and act as a mandate for action. Despite their breathtaking hypocrisy of ignoring an overwhelming 87% of New Zealanders on the anti-smacking law, it seems they have now had a change of heart. We would call on them to join with NZ First who have been consistent supporters of binding Referendums, and the ACT party who have indicated conditional support, and introduce the necessary legislation to make future Referendums binding.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“This was always the intention of the legislation governing CIRs – that the government would heed the results of a clear cut result – such as the recent anti-smacking Referendum. Sir Doug Graham at the first reading of the CIR Bill in 1992 said *.. it will be obvious that, if the public overwhelmingly supported a proposition contained in a referendum, clearly it would have great persuasive weight and any Government that simply ignored it would do so at its peril.”

“Binding citizen initiated referendums will simply be democracy in action.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.