Hutchison Paul: Electoral Finance Bill — In Committee 
Hutchison Paul: Electoral Finance Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:644;Page:13651] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this perfidious Electoral Finance Bill and I say “perfidious” in the true sense of the word because it is a breach of faith by this Labour Government to the people of New Zealand and it is treacherous because indeed it is totally in the self-interest of this Labour Government. 
When we talk about the title of this bill we can think of it as the “Labour Government Suppression of Democracy and Human Rights Bill” because Helen Clark on Labour’s now infamous 1999 pledge card said: “Labour will build a future in which everyone has a stake and a chance.” Here we are 8 years later and the  
New Zealand Herald’s  
front page said it all: “Democracy under attack” and “a dramatic assault on human rights.” I could hardly believe that the Human Rights Commissioner felt so strongly that she would describe the chilling effect that this bill caused regarding the regulated periods. 
Even further to that if one looks at the footnote regarding the chilling effects this is what the Human Rights Commissioner said: “ ‘Chilling effects’ refers to the stifling effect that vague or over-broad laws may have on legitimate speech and activity.” That is the indictment on this Labour Government and that is the indictment on that interjector over there. She goes on to say: “This term has been used in the United States for several years when William J Brennan the first Postmaster General referred to the chilling effect on the exercise of First Amendment rights.” This is indeed a great indictment on this Government. 
But another title suggested to me by the Hon Georgina te Heuheu was the “Labour Government’s Sticky Pink Hands in Ordinary New Zealanders’ Pockets Bill” because here again is this socialist Government that just cannot help itself in controlling the rights and freedoms of ordinary New Zealanders. This week the House will debate the third reading of the Education (Tertiary Reforms) Amendment Bill and there again the Government is attempting to trample over universities’ freedom of expression and autonomy. Again there is a chilling connection between that and of course the very same bill that we are speaking about. 
There is no doubt that Bill English’s amendment should be taken up by this Government so that at least the regulated period does not cover a full third of the electoral cycle but instead goes from April onwards. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: This member is degenerating at an alarming rate. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: I suggest to that interjector over there who is so keen on suppressing fundamental human rights that he listen to this very very sensible suggestion that extends from April and on to the election. Even yesterday when I attended a bus protest at Maramarua one of the ordinary parents of these children whose lives the Labour Government is putting at risk said to me: “Will I be able to protest next year under this Labour Government?”. Ordinary people do not understand what this Government is placing on them. 
Finally a third fitting title for the bill might be the “Helen Clark Legacy to Suppression of Free Speech Bill”. She is the lady who said back in 1999 that everyone would have a stake and a chance. I can tell Ms Clark that on the streets of Pukekohe and on the farms of Port Waikato people are saying that this time her arrogance has gone just too far. The Law Society has it absolutely right in the conclusion of its submission when it states: “Rather the bill in its current form is a flawed attempt to achieve a legitimate social objective.” It should be thrown out.