10. Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill—StatementsHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister of JusticeElectoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill—Statements10. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister of Justice: Does he in respect of his Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill agree with the analysis by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in the report The impact of political party control over the exercise of the parliamentary mandate" that describes the power of political parties to revoke the parliamentary mandate as "political party dictatorships" and which concludes "the parliamentary free mandate remains a cornerstone of democracy"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): That Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report was not in respect of the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill notwithstanding the very fine sentiment that it expressed. But in light of the sentiment that it expresses I certainly will be voting against Supplementary Order Papers 60 and 65 from members on that side of the House which try to amend the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill by requiring general secretaries of parties and governing boards of parties to make decisions that are properly the preserve of members of this House.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does he apply the statement he made of New Zealand's 21 constitutional experts opposing his bill and I quote him "They are all wrong. They just don't understand." to the IPU when this organisation represents 164 parliaments and has for over 130 years advised on these constitutional issues and is the most respected international institution on best practice for parliaments?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I think that question is asking whether or not the principle that that member outlined from the IPU report about political party dictatorship applies to the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill and I do not accept that that principle as adumbrated in that report applies to the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Can he confirm the analysis in that IPU report that his bill's provisions allowing a party leader to dismiss an MP with the only check being a two-thirds vote of their caucus matches most closely the provisions in the Republic of Zimbabwe and is that country now the model democracy for his Government in what New Zealand should follow?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: No because that member's summary of the electoral integrity bill that is contained in that question is just completely wrong. There are more safeguards than just a two-thirds vote of a party caucus.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Minister: does he have regard to all manner of views and behaviours on this issue including the Hon Nick Smith leading the charge on a whipped 100 percent vote to expel fellow National Party MP Williamson?SPEAKER: Order!Hon Gerry Brownlee: He's got no responsibility for that; it didn't happen.SPEAKER: I'm not looking to a matter of fact; I am looking to a matter of responsibility and I think it is a stretch.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Why is his Government ignoring the advice of the IPU in respect of New Zealand's electoral law but at the same time funding the IPU to advise parliamentary democracies in developing countries on best practice; or is this Government's stance: "Do as we say not as we do."?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The IPU has not given advice on this country's electoral laws."