Tony Ryall
National Party MP

21 November 2007

Official papers on Electoral Bill still suppressed

National Party MP Tony Ryall is repeating his call for Labour to release the official papers behind the controversial Electoral Finance Bill.

“National sought these papers in July, and subsequently complained to the Ombudsmen. Now the bill is in front of the House, what reason does Labour have for sitting on them?”

Mr Ryall says the public is entitled to see the advice that the Ministry of Justice has given the Government on election finance changes. The Ministry is the Government's key adviser on constitutional and electoral matters.

“If these internal reports were full of glowing praise, then the Government would have released every single page.

"These papers must be damning in their criticism of Labour's attack on democratic values. Why else would their release be stonewalled?”

Mr Ryall says he expects Labour to provide the information after it is too late for the public to consider them alongside the anti-democratic Electoral Finance Bill.

“Labour doesn’t want New Zealanders to know what official advice they have received. They want to keep the public in the dark. The Minister won't even confirm that the Government has ignored Ministry warnings and advice.

“If there's nothing to hide, then Labour should release the papers!”

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