Democracy denied, democracy derailed

The Government's Supercity proposal continues to "deny and derail" democracy for the people of the Auckland region with plans to prevent submitters speaking at select committee hearings on the laws establishing the new council, says Papakura Mayor.

“In the same week as the western ring road decision doomed more than 300 homes, the first part of the Auckland Supercity legislation has been rammed through Parliament without any chance for anyone to have their say. This denies democracy to a third of New Zealand’s population. But there is worse to come I believe.”

Mr Penrose says as the second and third sections of the Supercity legislation is introduced, the Government has confirmed it will go to select committee and that submissions will be invited.

“That is only appropriate. But now the Government has also indicated the select committee process will be timed to make sure the new laws are in place and operating before the next local body elections, and that will mean few of those who make a submission will be allowed to address the committee in support of their concerns. That is an insult to the 1.4 million people who live and work in Auckland.”

Mr Penrose says the effect of the compressed timeframe and limits on the hearings mean democracy has been “derailed and denied” for 1.4 million people.

“This issue has brought Auckland together against the change as no other issue ever has. Unfortunately the Government is either not listening, or doesn’t care. People who would never have submitted on legislation in their lives now want to have their say on this one, and Wellington is working to prevent that.”

Papakura District Council’s original submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland’s Governance identified roles that could best be done by a single regional authority, including major public transport and infrastructure management. It also pushed strongly for local democracy and local decision-making to be preserved.

“The Council still believes this is the best model, and intends to make submissions to this effect. Many of our citizens will want to make their own submissions, and the word in the community is there are far more people who support local democracy and decision-making than even the thousand who turned out to our public meeting.”

The risk to the Government, Mr Penrose believes, is that their determination to ram through the legislation will seriously weaken the fabric of democracy itself.

“Why would people bother to submit, or even vote, when the Government is seen to simply do as it wishes anyway? Our elected representatives are certainly not representing us on this issue. This will be a huge test of our country’s commitment to democracy, and I think there are signs that the Government doesn’t buy in to democracy and the right for individuals to have their say.”

Mr Penrose says not only should the hearings accept oral submissions from every citizen who wishes to make one, the select committee “must follow the model of the Royal Commission and hold hearings in every affected city and district.”

“Our people deserve the right to look the committee in the eye and tell them why this legislation is setting Auckland up to fail miserably as a united group of communities.”

“My challenge to the Government is to take the measure of next week’s hikoi up Queen Street. Consider that it is being held on a week day, and that people will have to make all sorts of arrangements in order to show their feelings on this. Then count the numbers who oppose this faulty legislation and reconsider.”

ENDS

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