April 2 2007
The reactivated Coalition for Open Government was launched today, across the road from Parliament, to press for strong new election finance laws. Spokesperson Steven Price said New Zealand’s current election finance rules are some of the worst in the developed world and urgently need to be strengthened to provide New Zealand with a world-class, incorruptible electoral system.
The Coalition for Open Government was originally formed in 1979 and played a leading role in achieving New Zealand’s 1982 freedom of information law. Twenty five years on, the group has been re-formed to work for a strong new election finance law. The group has the blessing of the original group and includes one member from it.
The group has re-formed in response to Government plans to rewrite the election finance laws. A Government bill is due to be introduced to Parliament any day. The Coalition for Open Government plans to evaluate the Government proposals, monitor the legislation process and mobilise public support for the strongest possible new law.
The group’s patrons are Emeritus Professor Lloyd Geering ONZ, author Patricia Grace QSO, All Black Anton Oliver and former Electoral Commission head Paul Harris. The Coalition plans to involve many other New Zealanders in the issue in the coming months.
The Coalition for Open Government’s key proposals for change are presented in the attached document. Each of the five key proposals will be developed in later publications.
“Many of the strongest ideas for reform come straight from existing Canadian and British legislation,” Steven Price said. “There is no excuse for New Zealand to settle for less.”
“One bottom line is that if the Government intends to increase state funding of political parties, it should only be in exchange for dramatically strengthened election finance laws that provide openness and reduce the influence of large private donors.”
“The Coalition is determined that this year’s rewriting of the election laws does not just produce weak versions of overseas laws. Recent controversies over Exclusive Brethren pamphlets, the pledge card, anonymous donors and election spending demand that New Zealand clean up the system properly.”
