Govt Blocked Debate on Election Defamation Clause
Friday 16 Nov 2001 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Justice, Law & Order
ACT New Zealand Justice spokesman Stephen Franks said today the new clause the Government inserted in the Electoral
Amendment Bill yesterday got no debate. "When the House reached that part, Jill Pettis as Chair of the Committee
accepted an early Government motion to close the debate.
"The Government inserted 24 pages of completely new provisions into that part of the bill, adding to over 30 that had
been considered by the Select Committee - and then used its majority to force closure of debate within just 45 minutes.
"In the Select Committee I proposed the much more carefully drafted Section 199A to make it a corrupt practice for a
candidate to deliberately lie to influence an election. It applies only for two days before the election, and was
designed to block the Winston Peters ploy of making startling claims too late to be checked out by investigating
journalists and the normal process of campaign rebuttal. We had no warning until this week that Margaret Wilson would
spring her much wider provision on us.
"The Select Committee had carefully debated various alternatives and rejected a late suggestion now included by Ms
Wilson.
"Labour's cavalier attitude to free speech has been the hallmark of their approach to electoral issues. They seriously
considered Winston Peters' demand for a ban on opinion polls. Their spending restrictions disguise badly drafted clauses
that can be misused to chill free speech.
"Earlier this year the Hon Sandra Lee had to "suspend" a section in the Local Electoral Act after I blew the whistle on
the gag it would mean for journalists.
"The suppression of debate in the House on this major chunk of new law was the last straw. In sullen determination, ACT
and National ensured that the Bill did not get through its committee stages yesterday evening," Stephen Franks said.
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.