Date 15th April 2008
Press Release
For Immediate Release. Labour’s Little Red Rule Book
Robert Mugabe could learn a few tricks from the Clark government about how to invent laws that will give the ruling
party underhand advantages, says Republicans Deputy Leader Bevan Berg.
It is obvious that Labour’s latest idea, to use pamphlets produced by government departments, is exactly what the Clark
government had in mind when it passed the Electoral Finance Act (EFA).
“Did Mike Williams immediately text his resignation to the PM, or did he understand his actions were already written
into Labour’s Little Red Rule Book,”asks Berg?
“The Labour Party’s behaviour has prompted the Public Service Association to defend its independence, and I commend
their commitment to democracy and to the integrity of the public service,” says Berg.
“The EFA deliberately avoids placing any limits on what government departments might do to promote the ruling party. The
Act’s regulations just happen to restrict and complicate everything that opposition parties are able to do in
campaigning against government, but leave the incumbent ruling party able to use the nation’s bureaucrats to build an
election image.”
“What we are seeing here is absolute duplicity. It’s the Little Red Rule Book for Labour and the Electoral Finance Act
for the rest of the Electorate,” concludes Berg.
ENDS