Green Party supports Electoral Integrity Bill to select committee

The Green Party has supported the Electoral Integrity Amendment Bill to the Justice Select Committee.

“This is a different and better Bill to previous incarnations. The Green Party has secured important improvements that protect the ability of MPs to express different views to their party and leader without necessarily resulting in expulsion,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.

“The Green Party has always fostered deep concern with this type of legislation. As such the new section 55C applies a standard of reasonableness, which is a legally reviewable objective standard. This change we won protects MPs from malicious and low level accusations of abandoning their party.

“The Bill also requires party leaders to provide written notice, including any party rules that are relevant to the use of the power, with a 21 day response period, while the affected MP remains in office and the decision can be reviewed or challenged. This stops leaders and caucuses simply throwing MPs out over minor disagreements.

“The Greens’ changes to the original Bill represent significant improvements that protect MPs’ freedom of speech.

“There are concerns within our party and our caucus about this Bill. However, in good faith we are progressing it to select committee in the hope that a better balance can be reached between its intention to retain the proportionality of Parliament while protecting MPs’ ability to stand up for what they and their constituents believe in.”

© Scoop Media