The Green Party has today announced a plan to get big money and influence out of politics, with a package of reforms including capping political donations at $30,000, stopping companies from donating, and setting up a public register of lobbyists.
"Our democracy should work for everyone, not just the wealthy few. Right now, a handful of very rich and powerful people and corporations can buy access and influence the government for their benefit," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.
"Successive governments have changed our electoral rules to suit themselves and done nothing about big corporate money in politics. This Government has gone further, weakening donation laws, making it harder to vote, and stripping thousands of people of their human right to vote."
Davidson says the Electoral (Donations) Amendment Bill would cap what any one person can give a party and its candidates at $30,000 an election cycle, allow donations only from people, not companies, and require parties to name anyone who gives more than $1,000 a year.
"This election we've already seen some of the wealthiest people in the country donating over $100,000 to parties in Government. To put this into perspective, a $200,000 donation from the richest person in the country is the same share of their wealth as $2.76 from someone with the average level of wealth," says Davidson.
"These ideas are not new. The Independent Electoral Review called for a cap on donations in 2023 and a lower disclosure threshold. This bill simply puts into law the changes experts have been calling on Parliament to pass for years."
Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says the Regulation of Lobbying Bill would put professional lobbyists on a public register.
Swarbrick says, "Parliament is supposed to work for New Zealanders, not just lobbyist interests."
"While lobbying is legal and a part of politics, the problem is that almost none of it is on the record.""As successful secret lobbying of Luxon’s Government raises concerns and trust in Parliament erodes, it’s past time to act."
"Professional lobbyists will be registered and report every four months on who they lobbied, who they were working for and what they wanted. The public can then determine who politicians are listening to."
"Other countries have been doing this for years. it's time we caught up."
"Real estate agents, lawyers and electricians all have to meet professional standards, and lobbyists should too."
"Former Ministers will have to wait two years before they can lobby. Ministers should not be able to walk out of Cabinet and start selling access the very next week."
"None of this will affect ordinary people talking to their MP. Submissions, petitions, union bargaining and Treaty settlement negotiations remain unchanged."
"The Green Party will make sure our democracy works, transparently, for the people of this country," says Swarbrick.
