Mapp Report - 17 August 2007
www.waynemapp.co.nz

ELECTORAL FINANCE BILL

The Labour Party is trying to screw the scrum to win the election. Of course it is desperate stuff to stave off defeat. Now even Labour admits they have over-reached. But it does show the lengths they are prepared to go to, in order to win the election.

Election advertising
Most people accept there should be rules that govern advertising in elections, and how much parties should be able to spend. These rules have evolved over the years, as differing forms of media have become more popular. Generally the rules have developed on a bipartisan basis, so that no particular political party is either advantaged or disadvantaged.

Labour’s abuse of public funds
But now the situation is different. Labour deliberately flouted the rules in 2005, and spent taxpayer funds on brochures delivered to every household in the last few weeks prior to the election. The Electoral Commission, and the Auditor General, rapped Labour over the knuckles for this, and they had to pay back over $800,000. But it showed a new mentality in New Zealand electioneering. Labour is prepared to use and abuse public funds and electoral law for electoral advantage.

Labour’s rules limit rights and spending
The current Bill is the same partisan approach, to stifle as much criticism as possible against the government. Section 5(i)(a)(iii) prevents anyone, such as Grey Power, the Sensible Sentencing Trust or even the PPTA, from commenting on any issue where a political party has a position, unless they register and record the expenditure. The rules will kick in from 1 January 2008. Once $60,000 has been spent (around two large newspaper ads) such groups can’t speak publicly any further, if that would involve spending money. So an important public advocate such as Sensible Sentencing will be severely limited in being able to take a stand on no parole for the worst offenders.

Draconian restrictions
In Parliamentary questions this week, Labour members deny that the Bill will have this effect, but this is only because they either haven’t read the Bill, or were hoping to get away with it – probably the latter. These rules are the most draconian restrictions in any country we compare ourselves to; Australia, Canada, the UK or the US.

Labour’s anti-democratic plan must be stopped. You can make a submission detailing your concerns, and send two copies to the Clerk of Parliament’s Justice and Electoral Select Committee, Select Committee Office, Parliament House, Wellington, or online at -http://www.parliament.govt.nz/en-NZ/SC/SubmCalled

The deadline for submissions is 7 September 2007.

AIR NEW ZEALAND : A CASE OF ‘YES MINISTER’?

One of the extraordinary issues that has come out of the Air New Zealand flight of Australian combat troops to Kuwait is the complete dysfunction of the government.

Air New Zealand tells
First we have Simon Murdoch, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) apologising for not informing his Minister of the flights. That is even after the CEO of Air New Zealand had specifically told Mr Murdoch of the proposed charter. These were not discussions between mid-level managers. The CEO of Air New Zealand thought he should advise the head of MFAT of the charters.

Minister out of loop
Then yesterday we heard from the Deputy Prime Minister that the Intelligence Committee, which comprises New Zealand’s most senior civil servants, also knew of the charters. But they apparently did not tell the Prime Minister, or any other Minister.

Officials take over?
What on earth is going on? Do officials now run New Zealand foreign policy; not the elected government? Have Ministers somehow given carte blanche to officials to make these decisions without advising them?

Government must explain
Conspiracy theorists would call it plausible deniability. Whatever it is, it is time we got a proper explanation from the government.

Dr Wayne Mapp

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ENDS

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