Press Release: Direct Democracy Party:
Grand Coalition” on anti-smacking Bill re-affirms need for fresh electorate alternative for voters in 2008:
The “Grand Coalition” agreement by the National and Labour Party over the anti-smacking Bill has re-affirmed the need
for a fresh electorate alternative for voters in 2008, says Direct Democracy Party leader Kelvyn Alp.
“The reaction by the majority of National Party supporters (and the reported private reaction of some of the National
Party MP’s) to National Party Leader John Key’s “sleeping with the enemy” has been shock, disbelief, and a sense of
philosophical betrayal to its core constituency”.
If the Direct Democracy Party had been directly involved in this very contentious issue, our first initiative would have
been to hold a Binding Referendum with the people of New Zealand, and then vote either for or against this Bill
depending on the will of the people of New Zealand”.
“Clearly, the will of the people of New Zealand was overwhelmingly against this deeply flawed Bill becoming law – and so
in accordance with the principles of Binding Referendum, we would have voted against this Bill becoming law”.
“The will of the people of New Zealand is being treated with disdain, disrespect, and abject dismissal by the same
political parties over the same issues – The Direct Democracy Party intends to champion Binding Referendum in the 2008
election, so that the will of the people of New Zealand can finally have a genuine voice in formulating public policy”,
says Mr Alp.
ENDS