MMP up for review under Direct Democracy, says Party Leader.

The insistence by Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and Deputy Leader of the National Party Bill English that “MMP is here to stay” is at odds with the premise of democracy” says Direct Democracy Leader Kelvyn Alp.

“Section 264 of the Electoral Act 1993 required the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to review and report on various matters relating to the electoral system. The MMP Review Committee was established for this purpose in April 2000. However, on a number of significant matters the committee was divided and therefore unable to make recommendations. The Government acknowledged at the time that the Committee did not make recommendations on a number of major issues because it was unable to reach unanimous or near-unanimous decisions in relation to them”.

“In light of the recent dismissal of 80% of the population over the anti-smacking Bill; in light of a raft of “conscience” Bills that have been made into the law on the back of 1-2 votes in Parliament, again against the majority wishes of the NZ people; in light of the recent “Mood of the Boardroom” survey report, whereby nearly 80% of chief executives want a national referendum on MMP; and in light of the 3rd principle of the Direct Democracy Party “7 steps towards Direct Democracy Charter” ( www.ddp.co.nz ), it is time for the people of New Zealand to be properly consulted as to whether MMP is serving them democratically, or enslaving them to unpopular minority interests” says Mr Alp.

 
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