Carter David: Electoral Finance Bill — In Committee 
Carter David: Electoral Finance Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:644;Page:13649] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 As the debate around the Electoral Finance Bill enters its final stages in the Committee the arguments still remain the same. This bill has been cobbled together by the Labour Government and supported by New Zealand First and the Greens and the only purpose behind the bill is to rig the electoral system in order to give the gasping dying Labour Government another chance. That is the only thing behind this bill and Winston Peters knows it well. That is what is behind this bill. 
The bill is fundamentally flawed—fundamentally flawed. There has been a convention around electoral finance legislation in the past whereby legislation like this bill is developed on a consensus basis. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Rubbish! 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: It is developed on a consensus basis and Winston Peters knows that. He knows that very very well. 
But on this occasion Jill Pettis said it all. She said that there are people around New Zealand today who want to write cheques for the National Party because they want to see the end of the corruption that exists at the moment within the current Government. That is what is going on with this legislation. Winston Peters knows it but I would tell— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. If Mr Carter wants to talk about corruption then I am sure he is looking in the mirror but he will not make that allegation about any member of this Government or for that matter a Minister. He has just mentioned my name. If he wants a rundown on corruption then he should tell members what is going on in the Rakaia selection process right now where there were five candidates and now there is only one or he can give any other example. But he cannot make that accusation. It is outside the Standing Orders. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley) 
: I would just like to draw members’ attention to the fact that the member was on a point of order. There should have been silence and there was a lot of talking. It was actually quite hard to follow. [ 
Interruption 
] I am ruling on a point of order. Members know that that is a term that is not to be used against a member or against a party as per Speakers’ rulings so I just caution the member. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: If Helen Clark thinks that this bill will save her Government then she has another think coming because the public of New Zealand know what is going on with this legislation. Winston Peters knows what is going on with this legislation Helen Clark knows Doug Woolerton knows—they all know. This legislation is about screwing the scrum. It is about making sure the Government gets an advantage in putting its message out using taxpayers’ money after it got caught last year taking $850000 off the taxpayer. After Winston Peters’ party got caught taking $50000 off the taxpayer Winston Peters said he would pay it back and the cheque was in the mail—yeah right! That money has never been paid back. That is what this legislation is about; it is about any mechanism the dying parties of New Zealand First and Labour can find to screw the scrum take money off the taxpayers to sell their message and in the meantime attempt to slow down the National Party in getting its message out to the public.