Hide Rodney: Electoral Finance Bill — In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Electoral Finance Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:644;Page:13655] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 We are debating the title and the commencement date of the Electoral Finance Bill. We are discussing two big principles here today with this bill and I think we are confusing them and doing rather a poor job of it. The two big principles are democracy and freedom of speech. In this debate this Committee and I am afraid this Government are confusing two quite different things. Freedom of speech is the ability to speak our minds. It is the ability to state our opinions whether they are right or wrong and whether or not people find them offensive. Of course there are limits on freedom of speech. We cannot defame someone we cannot be offensive and we cannot cause distress in the public theatre by calling out “Fire!” when there is no fire. But we are very careful about limiting freedom of speech. 
We have a view that we can express any idea on politics that we care to. We particularly guard those people who want to speak out and whom we oppose because that is the test of freedom of speech. That is why I have always stood up and said that the Exclusive Brethren should be free to express their political views. The issue is not whether I agree with them; the issue is whether they are free to express it without Government regulation or Government sanction. If we have to get Government recognition or sanction in order to express our political opinion it is not free speech. That is the point. We should not have to go to the Government and sign up and register with the Government to express our point of view. 
The second great principle that we are discussing here is democracy. Somehow the two have become confused; in order to have a functioning democracy we have to hobble people’s ability to spend their own money to express their views and how they might go about it. We do not. The way we have a democracy is we have one person one vote and everyone’s vote counts. The people can vote and change the Government. That is what the definition of a democracy is—a functioning democracy. We do not achieve a democracy by saying: “Oh those people over there are too smart. We need to somehow reduce their IQ.” or “These people over here are too fit and they could knock on too many doors. We need to somehow slow them down.” or “This party over here has too many members. We have to restrict it.” or “This party over there has too much money.” or “This church group is too organised and is putting out too many pamphlets. Therefore we have to restrict it to somehow level the playing field to achieve a democracy.” No. We achieve a democracy by having each person with one vote and we achieve freedom of speech by allowing people to express their political views freely. 
I say that it is a shame that we have conflated those views. It is a shame that this bill has been developed in the most partisan manner possible with abuse being hurled from one side to the other. I think it is a great shame that the Government and the supporters of this bill have launched into personal attacks on those people who oppose the bill whether they be individuals organisations or indeed the news media. We do not normally see that from the Minister Annette King. 
Hon Annette King 
: You haven’t seen it now. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: I hope that Annette King will stick to the policies. No I say to the Minister. I heard her attack John Boscawen. 
Hon Annette King 
: I didn’t mention him. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: I absolutely heard the Minister attack John Boscawen and I say to her that this is what chills New Zealanders. Citizens should be able to express their view. Newspapers should be able to editorialise and if we disagree with them I say to the Minister—and I say to this Government—let us have the debate not the abuse.