English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeEnglish Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 22 August 2007. Volume:641;Page:11341. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) to theMinister of Justice: Does he stand by his statement in relation to matters of election campaigning in the Electoral Finance Bill that “A neutral referee is provided for in this legislation to exercise judgment on those matters.”; if so who is that neutral referee?Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Justice): I do. The quote refers to the role of the Chief Electoral Officer in relation to determining whether publications by third parties and candidates fall within the definition of election activity. The Chief Electoral Officer will also be in a position to generally provide advice and guidance on what is and is not included in the bill’s definitions. In some cases that advice would be very straightforward such as in the case of publications by the news media. There is an exemption for the news media and it includes material that the news media disseminates on the Internet such as an online newspaper or a journalist’s blog.Hon Bill English: Can the Minister confirm that the role of the Chief Electoral Officer is absolutely unchanged by this legislation that the Chief Electoral Officer has always been available to offer that guidance and advice and that contrary to his statement to the House this legislation does not provide a new neutral referee; so why did he say it?Hon MARK BURTON: The member should be careful to be accurate. I did not say “a new neutral referee”. I said it provides a neutral referee; it does and it provides an extended role and responsibilities for the Chief Electoral Officer.Hon Bill English: Why is it that whenever this Minister is asked a question about this legislation he either does not know the answer or thinks he does and gets it wrong and occasionally just makes it up?Hon MARK BURTON: That has got to be the ultimate case of the pot attempting to call the kettle black. I have answered each question factually and correctly but frankly I say to Mr English the making-up is something we have seen as recently as in the last question the member asked.Hon Bill English: Can the Minister tell us whether he knows the answer to this question and if he does not know can he please not attempt to answer it. Can he confirm that unincorporated societies such as churches can qualify as third parties under this bill and therefore be allowed to spend over $5000 in election year only if all their members are registered electors and that therefore any church that has a member who is aged 17 or under is thereby excluded from participating?Hon MARK BURTON: The question the member raises is a matter of interpretation of one of the clauses in the bill. It is a matter that I have asked officials to look at because I think it is important that the intent of the bill is clear in all matters. That is of course why we have a select committee process.Hon Bill English: Now that the Minister has had 24 hours since I asked him about whether blogs on newspaper websites count as election advertisements can he now inform the House what his best advice is on that matter?Hon MARK BURTON: The member clearly did not listen to the answer I gave to his principal question.Hon Bill English: Can I give the Minister 24 hours’ notice of an answer to this question: is it correct under this legislation that regarding the Labour Party pledge card and the spending of $800000 which exceeded the expenditure limits at the last election the Labour Party would not be liable for anything if it did the same again and that the only person who would be is the party’s financial agent who would have to pay a $40000 fine but that Labour would be able to run the pledge card and not have to repay the money if it did it illegally?Hon MARK BURTON: That matter is not covered by this legislation as the member should well know. This legislation covers the activities of candidates in election campaigns not parliamentary activity. But if the member does want to put a question down for 24 hours of course he is eligible to do so. I have to say to the member that what this bill will not allow which happened at the last election is the $1 million rort that the National Party and Mr Key in particular actively knew about and encouraged—that $1 million rort at absolute odds with the sentiments of the speech that that member gave just 2 hours ago in this building.Hon Bill English: Can the member confirm that under this law he as the member for Taupo will be able to spend $65000 of public money next year promoting himself and anyone who tries to challenge him will be limited to $20000 expenditure for the whole year; and does he agree that even with a three to one advantage he will get trashed?Hon MARK BURTON: Yet again the member is factually incorrect on every point. As a member of Parliament like that member—although I do visit my electorate on a frequent basis—I will be entitled to continue to meet my responsibilities and expenditure related to those as a member of Parliament. I will not be entitled to spend any of that money in my capacity as a candidate in winning a sixth term to the Taupo electorate.