The change they should make to the EFA
The Herald reports that changes to the Electoral Finance Act are likely. I am not so sure, as any changes would need to be given leave to go up the order paper, and also need to go through a select committee. And making significant changes to the law in election year is risky.
But there is one change which could be made easily, and would not require all the advice and rule books to be thrown out. That is to change the length of the regulated period from 1 January to 90 days before the election (or a fixed date such as 1 September). That has led to all the uncertainty over normal activities being caught up as election expenses.
No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet this post)
Tags: Electoral Finance Act
April 17th, 2008 at 8:24 am
In the citadel of democracy , the US, they have to leave a government building if a member of congress wants to talk to a fund raiser as that is illegal on government property. THis applies at all times.
Whats so hard about authorising material for 10 months of the year. Sure the first year has a few stumbles. But that is to be expected.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:38 am
It’s not just the difficulty of complying that’s the problem gww3 it’s the fact that it was rammed through without bipartisan consultation and now the “stumbles” that were predicted by its opponents are now finally becoming apparent to the likes of you and labour.
“But that is to be expected”. Indeed.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:41 am
GWW correctly points out our law changes consistently takes us closer and closer to the US style of political funding. The Government claimed the opposite but in fact the law changes are similiar to what the US has done.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Was the Employment Contracts Act rammed through by National any different. I seem to remember quite a few amendments.
And as national was a prime suspect in the spending by third parties that to used a loophole to get around it being counted as part of their spending why would you try to get something that pleases them anyway.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:45 am
The ONLY change this legislation needs is a fucking match.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Nice try Ghost. The question under debate is the constitutional cockup that is the EFA.
It’s good that you like the rules that apply in the USA. After all, everyone knows that money does not unduly influence politicians and the political processing in the USA.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:52 am
GWW3: was a prime suspect in the spending by third parties
Prime. Suspect. For once you fucking lefties should deal in facts, not might have beens. Did you complain when the Labour Party attempted to use the public service to get around election funding rules? No. But you bitch like a little girl who’s lost her teddy bear when you think the opposition might, possible, in your imagination do something.
Facts, GWW3. Not what you think might be.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:53 am
gww3 – “why would you try to get something that pleases them anyway.”
Because at last count they are preferred by just under half of the NZ voting public.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am
DPF – section 65 applies irrespective of the regulated period.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Being held accountable just really screws with being a socialist doesn’t it phantom.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:28 am
**Letter sent to Lairbour yesterday
Dear Helen and the Liarbour ramble,
We hope in writing and sending this note that it reaches you and you are able to listen (for the first time ever) to the voice of the nation.
We hope that your processes in your party controls do not screen and withhold this as it would deprive you of much needed insight into how New Zealand feels.
Please resign Helen.
This country has had enough of you.
Where as some once held belief in you, it appears that the absolute “power” you have been privelaged with has actually corrupted you once and for all. I’m not even sure you have grip yourself on whats truth or fiction anymore.
What is plain to see though; Your long track record of behvavioural disorders, actions and antics as the No1 of this land are nothing short of disgraceful.
Please resign Helen. Please.
In watching and listening to you squirm, lie, contradict, make excuses (instead of action), change tone and cheat your way out of pretty much each and every word you’ve muttered offers serious implications to this land.
That is as you do these things, it is clear no one at all is running New Zealand.
That is of grave concern to the Nation Helen and an a direct abusive of the privelage of office you were granted. Helen what a crock of nonsense that EFA is?! How can anyone be expected to take you seriously. Do you take yourself seriously?
Anti-smacking….come on….next you’ll be banning breathing or at least pulling your puppett Cullen’s strings (corrupt cullen) and imposing some sort of tax on it.
Please resign Helen. Please.
You claim not to “Muck Rake” however, that is all you seem to spend your time doing…do you sit in your office with Lairbour’s strategists scheming on whom you can muck over??? Have you nothing to offer that slur of your opposition. Have you no class?
What are you actually doing to earn our tax payer’s money expect whittling it away on trash and political slur. Truly unbeliavable stuff.
It becomes even more cringeworthy when Mr Corrupt Cullen thinks it’s big league stuff to endorse and expect the muck raking behaviour that you say doesn’t exist in Liarbour.
Christ the scary thing is this guy has access and charged with running the nations finances.
Helen, please resign.
Your behaviours reflect the attitudes and grumbles of a deeply unhappy or troubled person. We, as a country, need someone fit of mind and focused to leading this land forward. You have had plenty of time to settle in and meet your promises.
The nation is extremely dissappointed Helen.
We don’t need pledge cards and anti-smacking bills (that you didn’t then did support). No one needs a repeatedly corrupt and totally untrustable, unreliable government. No one needs that electoral finance nonsense (and the corruption it derives).
Please resign.
When the Nation tunes into “question time” they are looking for guidance, plans and action. No one needs to hear “Diddums” as a responses to valid country management queries. Very poor form Helen, shameful however, not an isolated incident.
Helen, it’s just not acceptable at all, indeed it could be deemed cancerous and corrosive eh?
Please resign.
If you are truly interested in the well being of New Zealand, if you truly are…then please do the respectful and honourable thing and resign. Don’t delay. Just do it.
Can you only imagine how the world laughs at us now….we must be a nation of immense political embarassment at the way you’ve had us carry on. Just a malarky from top to bottom eh.
Please resign Helen.
You’ve laid your cards on the table over the years Helen, shuffled them, stolen a few aces, dealt again and get a few jokers up your good show. The game is over now Helen, the bar empty and time to go home.
Please, please resign Helen.
Lets not abuse any more privelage. No more lies Helen. No more corruption. No more slur.
New Zealand needs a prime minister and government that can clean up the mess that has been created, set in place some platforms, put in place damage control and breath a huge sigh of relief that it’s leadership is able to talk straight, tell the truth and just get on with the job.
Please resign Helen.
Please.
Love from,
New Zealand.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am
DPF how long would this process take: “I am not so sure, as any changes would need to be given leave to go up the order paper, and also need to go through a select committee.” ?
April 17th, 2008 at 10:33 am
DPF say ..GWW correctly points out our law changes consistently takes us closer and closer to the US style of political funding…
So are going to see a FSC billboard saying George Bush salutes Helen and the EFA?
or more likely McCain as I think GWB would ditch the whole thing in the US
April 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
The EFA is so fatally flawed that no amount of tinkering is going to produce a good governance outcome.
And this is the point that everyone has missed.
Legislation must pass the test of good governance Will it serve the people well. Is it democratic. Is it fair to all. And the list of questions to be asked and answered goes on.
The EFA fails every test.
I say again we must have a 3 person independent commission to hear submissions from all. The Commission to come up with a max of 3 models for a binding super refernendum to decide.
The pollies and the civil servants MUST NOT have the final say They are conflicted
April 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
A few stumbles? Fuck me, what colour is the sky on your planet. And what Murray said at 8.45am
April 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Which is why we at DAFT have our own alternative. We would scrap the EFA and put in the PEA.