It is deeply unfair that the referendum legislation to be debated in Parliament today will contain no provision for campaign spending caps, as it means groups will be allowed to try to buy a result, said the Green Party today.
"It's only fair that the referendum be a battle of ideas not a battle of who has the most money. The best way to make this happen is to provide campaign spending caps," said Metiria Turei, Green Party Co-Leader.
The Government will introduce the legislation for the MMP referendum into Parliament today. There will be no limits on how much campaigners can spend.
"We will support the electoral referendum bill to Select Committee because, on the whole, it sets out a fair and robust process. But the lack of spending caps is a glaring omission which needs to be addressed.
"We are looking forward to the debate on MMP and are confident that New Zealanders will vote to retain a fair system where every vote counts."
Mrs Turei added that, under MMP, more women were represented in Parliament and representation for Maori, Asian and Pasifika communities had increased.
"It is vital that big money is not allowed to flood the airwaves and effectively buy a return to a less democratic form of Government that suits big business.
"MMP is a fair system for everyone. It is only right that there are campaign spending caps in place to ensure that the vote on the future of New Zealand's democracy is also fair," said Mrs Turei.
Further information available at
Campaign for MMP - http://www.campaignformmp.org.nz/wordpress/
MMP fair for everyone, http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/mmp-fair-everyone
MMP referendum process a good start, http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/mmp-referendum-process-good-start
Subscribe to email newsletters
