Nick Smith - Electoral Law
7 August 2019
New Zealand’s democracy is being treated with disrespect by the Government’s rushed and unconventional changes to
electoral and referendum law, National’s Electoral Law spokesperson Nick Smith says.
“The Government is playing fast and loose with New Zealand’s electoral and referendum law, creating uncertainty and
confusion for the 2020 general election.
“The Government’s Referendum Bill gives Cabinet absolute power over what referenda are to be held and the wording of
questions. This excludes the public and Parliament.
“It is unprecedented looking back across all of the previous 20 referenda that have been held at general elections since
1853.
“It is shabby that New Zealanders who have differing views on abortion, recreational cannabis legalisation and
euthanasia do not know what referenda are to be held next year, and that they are being denied the opportunity to have a
say on the wording of questions.
“Ministers are showing contempt for democracy by adopting a ‘we won-you lost’ and ‘Parliament can’t be trusted’ attitude
to justify making all the decisions on referenda.
“The convention on electoral law is that changes follow the Justice Select Committee triennial Election Inquiry and are
consulted on with opposition parties, as well as being subject to a full select committee process. This Government’s
Electoral Integrity Amendment Bill, Referendum Framework Bill and Electoral Amendment Bill have all breached these
conventions.
“It’s easy to see why the Government has not followed proper process. It was sneaky for Justice Minister Andrew Little
to last month announce same-day enrolment and voting but to not tell New Zealanders this meant the final election
results and formation of the new Government would be delayed by ten days.
“These problems over electoral law and what referenda are held at the 2020 election are the product of Government
incompetence and the dysfunctionality between its three parties.
“Labour should not have left the triennial Election Inquiry so late and then added foreign interference and local
elections to the terms of reference.
“It should have sorted out long before now how it would deliver on its promise to the Greens of a referendum on
recreational cannabis. It also failed to manage NZ First’s long held promise that a referendum would be held on abortion
and euthanasia.
“These rushed and messy changes to electoral law expose the vulnerability of this country’s democracy. National will
have policies at the next election to secure a fairer and more robust democracy for New Zealand.”
ends