Smith NickHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson): Thank you Mr Chairman. I want to again quote Rod Donald—and I note that Mr James Shaw is in the House. I want to assure Mr Shaw that I am not wanting to be offensive. I totally respect the huge leadership role which I know you respect in Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons founding the Green Party and what it has contributed to New Zealand politics.Now during my second reading speech Mr James took offence at my quoting Mr Donald. I want to say to him this: if ever my party after I am long gone passes laws of this sort please quote back to them at length. If there's anything I want to leave as part of my contribution to this Parliament it is that every year I fought for those liberal democratic values that I think are pivotal to a country such as New Zealand. So I honestly say to Mr James—Hon Members: Mr Shaw.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: —Mr Shaw James Shaw—that when Rod Donald said that this was the most obnoxious insulting and anti-democratic piece of legislation to come before this Parliament Parliament should reflect on that. They are strong words for a bill that deserves strong words.Now when I listen to—Hon Willie Jackson: Things have changed though.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: —the Minister of Justice—and I hear Willie Jackson interjecting. I'd love him to respond to this point because Mr Little said that this bill is just business as usual—that this is just how democracy functions. Well I'd love Willie Jackson to read this report. I've checked the membership list: Willie Jackson is a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. That is an organisation that represents 172 Parliaments around the world and this comprehensive report looks into the very issue of this bill. What this report says is—and I'll quote it—The free parliamentary mandate is essential to any true democracy." So what it says is that if we pass this bill Willie—if we pass this bill Mr Jackson—we can no longer claim to be a true democracy.It goes further. It actually analyses every country—and it is true. There are 26 countries represented by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in which there is a provision that a member of Parliament if they voluntarily resign has to leave Parliament. That is true. There are only three countries in the whole world that enable a member of Parliament to be dismissed by a party leader. Those countries are Zimbabwe Pakistan and Sierra Leone. I ask members opposite: since when? And if I'm angry I am angry because what goes on in those countries the abuse of human rights and the lack of democracy is appalling. We have members of Parliament who are dismissed because they raise issues of corruption in their Governments. We have members in those countries that are dismissed because—do you know what? They held a press conference without the consent of their leader. In those countries we have members of Parliament who are dismissed because—do you know what? They didn't vote on a bill as they were directed to by their leader.I say to members opposite why on earth do we want to put a dark stain on this country's proud democracy with a bill of this sort that deprives us of rights and freedoms that so many New Zealanders have fought for over the years? So I've got a simple challenge for the Minister in the chair Peeni Henare or any member opposite: if you're a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union I invite you to debate this report before you start passing a bill that you call an electoral integrity bill but is nothing less than insulting to our democracy."