English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:647;Page:15848] 
12.  
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) 
 to the  
Minister of Justice 
: Is it Government policy that Government departments may not publish election advertisements; if so why? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice) 
: 
 It is not only Government policy but also the wish of Parliament as set out in section 67 of the Electoral Finance Act 2007. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does she agree with the statement made by Labour Party president Mike Williams that it is “a damn good idea” for the Labour Party to use Government department pamphlets for the purpose of electioneering; and if she does not agree then why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No I do not agree and I think the Prime Minister has made it clear to Mr Williams that she does not agree either. It is not a good idea because Government departments are there to inform the public legitimately about what programmes are available for them. They are not there to electioneer on behalf of any political party. 
Hon Bill English 
: Can she confirm that the Prime Minister described the person responsible for running Labour’s election campaign as “loose and confused” and that those words also describe Labour’s strategy with the Electoral Finance Act—that is to make everyone confused so they do not do anything while Government departments run loose with public money? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I have no responsibility for what the Prime Minister says to the leader of the Labour Party but I can say to the member that the only person who has tried to cause confusion is that member himself. He has put a lot of effort into it and has done quite a good job. But let me say to him that there was nothing stopping the National Party from 1 January advertising—authorised as National Party advertising for the election campaign—so long as National was prepared to pay for it and follow the law. But National has put up a smokescreen because it wanted to spend $5 million worth in the run-up to the election saying: “We’re not election campaign advertising; this doesn’t count.” 
Hon Bill English 
: Can the Minister tell the House whether it is Government policy that Government departments should use their websites to publish political statements made by Government Ministers during the regulated period—for instance the Schools Plus website and also the string of websites now operated by the Ministry for the Environment which look a lot like the political advice given by political appointee and now Labour candidate Clare Curran? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Government departments putting up Government policy that is being implemented is I believe the role of Government departments. What they cannot do is to run an election campaign on behalf of the Government. 
Hon Bill English 
: Has the Minister of Finance sought advice from her as to whether the Budget publicity planned by the Government including pamphlets and mail-outs complies with the Electoral Finance Act given that this is the first Budget that has been given during the regulated period laid out in the Electoral Finance Act; and if he has not asked her advice does she think he should have? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No the Minister of Finance has not sought my advice any more than that member has sought my advice on some of the things that his members are doing in their electorates now. I think the best thing to do for every member whether a Minister or a member of Parliament is go to where he or she can get proper advice and it is certainly not from me. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Is the Minister aware that Treasury has in fact sought Crown Law advice to ensure that all Budget documentation is compliant with the Electoral Finance Act? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Yes I am and that is what I would call proper advice—not some sort of bush lawyer advice that we get from Bill English which is usually distorted. That is what I mean about members of this House telling other members how they ought to run their affairs. It is not the role of the Minister of Justice to tell other members and other parties what they should have in their election campaign advertisements.