Media Statement
Tuesday 20 October 2009

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Dunne: MMP referendum a long time coming!

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne is pleased that National will honour its promise to voters and have a referendum on MMP.

"Such a referendum is long-overdue," said Mr Dunne, "I have been lobbying the major parties for a referendum on MMP over many years now."

"New Zealanders believe they were promised an opportunity to have their say within MMP's first ten years, many were disappointed they did not get that chance."

"I am glad the Government has committed to a review in 2011, although I would have preferred a referendum independent of a general election to be held in 2010."

"UnitedFuture policy is to:
• Hold a referendum on the future of MMP, in 2010, to allow the New Zealand people to review the effectiveness of the system to date
• Initiate a referendum on the future of Maori seats in Parliament to be held in conjunction with the MMP referendum, with a view to abolishing the seats by 2014. This would give effect to the recommendation in the 1986 Royal Commission on the Electoral System.
• Investigate an extension of the Parliamentary term to four years, with a fixed election day."

"While I acknowledge this timetable to be ambitious, I see no reason why we can't put all these issues to the public next year with all necessary changes to be made in time for the 2014 general election."

"In my opinion, the sooner we get on with it the better," said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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