Campaign4Democray hits the road

In response to an election promise in 1990, National passed the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993.

When parliament debated the bill that introduced CIR opportunities for New Zealand citizens, the Minister of Justice at the time, the Hon Sir Doug Graham said, “it will be obvious that, if the public overwhelmingly supported a proposition contained in a referendum, clearly it would have great persuasive weight and any Government that simply ignored it would do so at its peril. It is my belief that we will rarely witness by Parliament the rejection of a referendum result.” First & second readings CIR Bill 10 March 1992 and 14 Sept 1993.

He went on to say, “the intention is to review the use of citizens initiated referenda after a period of 5 years, and it may well be then appropriate to consider a change to the law to make referenda binding at that time.”

After 17 years and at least 3 CIRs where 'the public overwhelmingly supported a proposition’ that was largely ignored, Sir Doug Graham has witnessed what he perhaps truthfully never expected!

He also said, “The Citizens Initiated Referenda Bill gives the freedom to engage the entire nation in any topic of our choosing.”
“The debate the nation needs to have now is whether Citizens Initiated Referenda should be binding,” said Mr Baldock.

For this reason, a new petition has been launched by the organiser of the Anti-smacking referendum last year and leader of the Kiwi Party, Larry Baldock.

He and his wife Barbara will be travelling by road across the country over the next 12 months collecting signatures at public events and enlisting the help of volunteers to collect also.
The Petition Mr Baldock has launched has been officially approved by the Clerk of the House of Representatives and proposes the question: "Should Parliament be required to pass legislation that implements the majority result of a citizens initiated referendum where that result supports a law change?"

Prior to launching this present Campaign4Democracy, the Kiwi Party and other petition supporters commissioned a survey to gauge the public’s response to another petition. Fifteen percent of those involved indicated they would be prepared to help collect signatures, while 60% said they would be prepared to sign. That amounts to a potential of 450,000 collectors seeking the signatures of 1.8 million willing citizens.

“This is more than enough to achieve the 350,000 that is needed to meet the required number to force a referendum,” said the Campaign4Democracy organiser.

“If you compare the Smacking Referendum of last year with the MMP referendum in 1992, the results are interesting. In the Smacking Referendum 56.09% of the voting public took part with 87.4% of the people saying "No!" to that law. With the MMP Referendum 55% took part with 85% voting for change. Following the MMP Referendum former Labour Leader Mike Moore said, " The people didn’t speak on Saturday, they screamed."

Yet the opposition to the Anti-smacking Bill, greater than the support for MMP, was ignored, said Mr Baldock.
“This is the same anti-democratic response given from Parliament when Margaret Robinson’s referendum seeking a reduction of MPs, and Norm Withers' Tougher Sentencing and Victims Rights referenda were largely ignored despite 81.5% and 91.8% support respectively,” he said.

Initial collection efforts have shown great public support for the new petition with 500 signatures collected in 3 hours at a concert event in Mt Maunganui by only 5 to 6 volunteers, and 1600 over three days at a Southland Agricultural event by Mr Baldock and his wife Barbara on their own.

ENDS

© Scoop Media