Grey Power Response To Electoral Finance Bill

Grey Power National President, Mr Graham Stairmand said today "Grey Power is appalled at the totally repressive legislation contained in the Electoral Finance Bill. We believe that the bill is fatally flawed and removes the right of free speech. It contains the following provisions:

1. The electoral period begins on 1st January of an election year.
2. During this period no third party can conduct, propose, print, or distribute an election advertisement- the third party is any organisation.
3. An election advertisement means any form of words, graphics that does either of two things:
a. Encourages people to vote or not vote for parties or candidates.
b. Takes a position on an issue with which any party or candidate is associated (which essentially means that no comment can be made at all : successfully gagging all comment for a year).

4. Publication of an advertisement means paying for space in a newspaper or for radio time, but also includes posting a letter, sending an email, making a placard and handing out a flyer.

This bill is totally unacceptable in its current form and must be radically changed in the select committee process."

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