Pillay Lynne: Electoral Finance Bill — First Reading 
Pillay Lynne: Electoral Finance Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:640;Page:10780] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 I am absolutely appalled at that member Bill English standing in this House and saying what he did when a select committee with National Party members unanimously pushed that we should have a change to electoral law that we should have transparency and that we should have accountability—all the things that are really important. That member stands in this House and says the National Party will not support this bill. He does not even say National will let the public of New Zealand have a say—not even that. He says it will oppose this bill. Why? And what was he frothing at the mouth the most about? It was about third-party funding. Why did that cut such a nerve? Bill English the champion of the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) and the friend of the unions! He is worried about the unions’ ability to communicate with their members and that they will be stymied by being able to spend only $60000 on third-party advertising. That is just a smokescreen. 
We know why Mr English is so upset that he and National are not going to support the referral of this bill to a select committee. We know why he is going to insist on being part of the Justice and Electoral Committee and hearing submissions when he is not even prepared to have an open mind and listen to what the public of New Zealand says listen to what unions say and listen to what the employers associations say. The Exclusive Brethren may even front up and have a view on the legislation. I know they do not vote but they may have a view on third-party funding. 
I am really proud to stand and speak in support of this bill. It is very very welcome. The Justice and Electoral Committee will be delighted to have this bill before it because at the heart of this bill is the principle that the public should have the highest confidence in our electoral system. They should have that and I know they will when this bill has been through the select committee process and is back before this House. We need to have an electoral system that is transparent fair and not open to the undue influence of wealthy interest groups. We want to have a democracy that is informed and where in fact interest groups can directly inform their members; where employers associations can directly communicate with their members as can unions churches and any other organisation. But Labour says that when it comes to third-party funding there has to be accountability: that the funding is declared that it is clear where the funding comes from and that there is a limit. We think that is very appropriate. So I am really proud to stand in support of the bill. 
Indeed it was the Justice and Electoral Committee that said this legislation was due. When the Minister was before the committee very recently he was asked by members of the Opposition—and he will confirm this— 
Hon Mark Burton 
: National Party members! 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: —by National Party members—when we would get this legislation before the committee. National members said they wanted this legislation and now they stand in this House and say that they will not vote for it and that it would not even go to the select committee under National. That is appalling. 
We are not cutting freedom of speech; we are ensuring there is freedom of speech. We are ensuring that votes will not be bought that the public will have the information available to them and that they will make an informed decision—and they will be able to do so under this legislation. 
I commend the Minister. I know he has been very committed to this legislation. I know that the public of New Zealand are committed to it and I really look forward albeit at a bigger select committee to hearing the submissions. I really look forward to the legislation coming before our committee. I commend this bill to the House.