· New Zealand First will put an end to the use of conscience votes in parliament and return democracy to the people.

· New Zealand First has always believed that important decisions that change the social fabric of our country forever should not be left up to temporarily empowered politicians to decide.

· These decisions should be made by the people of New Zealand by way of referenda.

· Any legislation being passed in parliament that would normally be considered a ‘conscience issue’ will include a referendum clause.

· All topics of referenda will be promoted to New Zealanders to ensure robust discussion, education, and understanding.

· Any referenda will be binding and voted on at the same time as general elections.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out - for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool, or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice. Yet when Luxon (and senior MP Chris Bishop) tried to defend the indefensible with the same wildly inaccurate claim, there are not a lot of positive explanations left on the table.... More