Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Deputy Prime Minister

5 September 2006 Media Statement

2002 spending rule changes back Labour

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said National is telling another lie in claiming he participated in the post-2002 election review of parliamentary funding.

"I have obtained a list of its members and meetings. The Labour representatives, apart from the Speaker, were David Benson-Pope and Mark Burton," said Dr Cullen.

"More importantly, the changes made at that time contradict National's spin. The main change was to add "parliamentary political parties" to "members" in terms of those who were eligible to spend money to "advertise their services or activities".

"Specifically, this included "material of an informational nature to inform the recipient of the member's or parliamentary political party's views on public issues of the day," and "information about a member's or parliamentary political party's activities."

"In other words, it made it clearer that material such as the pledge card was included.

"It is correct that these rules excluded spending "supporting the election of any person or party." But this was always taken to mean specifically calling on people to vote for a person or party.

"That is why National's pledge pamphlet of 2002, and other material, was seen as legitimate, in the same way that Labour determined its pledge card was legitimate.

"One other subsequent change was to make it clear that both the parliamentary crest and an address had to be included.

"It may well be that the Auditor-General's report will propound a different interpretation of the rules. That does not affect what the Labour party and all other parties, including National, have done in good faith under a different interpretation in the past.

"Certainly no change in the rules after 2002 changed the situation in this respect at all, " Dr Cullen concluded.

Attached:
o List of members and meetings for post-2002 spending review
o Amendments made to Members' Handbook of Services after 2002 election
o Excerpt from Members' Handbook of Services – before amendments

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See...
Members and meetings for post-2002 spending review
2003 MHS Amendments - Support Allocation Funding (Word Doc)
2003 MHS Amendments - Use of Parliamentary Frank Stamp (Word Doc)
2003 MHS Amendments - Advertising (Word Doc)

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EXCERPT FROM THE MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK OF SERVICES – PRE 2003

1.3 ADVERTISING

1.3.1 Allocation

Funding is provided through the members’ support allocation to allow each member to advertise their services or activities on parliamentary business.

1.3.2 Definition

‘Advertising’ is defined as advertisements and information relating to the member’s activities when engaged on parliamentary business and made available by a member in print, via electronic media or the Internet and includes:

- advertisements in newspapers or other publications
- fliers and newsletters
- signage
- entries in public telephone directories
- material intended for public distribution (without charge) such as business cards, fridge magnets, pens etc
- radio and television advertising
- websites

1.3.3 Use and Content of Advertising

1(a)For the purposes of this section “parliamentary business” means all business relating to the work of a member of Parliament and may include:-

- promoting or providing details of the services a member is offering to the public;
- material of an informational nature to inform the recipient of the member’s views on public issues of the day;
- information about a member’s activities.
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1(b)“Parliamentary business” does not include:-

- soliciting subscriptions or other financial support for a political party or a candidate at an election;
- party political, promotional or electioneering material for the purpose of supporting the election of any person;
- any work undertaken as a Minister of the Crown and Member of the Executive Council.

2 Any advertising material must display the parliamentary crest or include the member’s contact details. Contact details must include at least one of the following for either the member’s parliamentary or out-of-Parliament office

- the physical or mailing address
- the electronic mailing address
- the telephone number

For this purpose, contact details do not include addresses, electronic mail addresses or telephone numbers which are direct political party contacts.

3 Party names may be used in advertising material. The party name to be used, and any abbreviation thereof, shall be in accordance with the name and abbreviation approved and registered by the Electoral Commission.

4 Where a party logo is displayed in an advertisement which also displays the parliamentary crest, the party logo should not be the dominant feature.

5 In addition to complying with the requirements of this section, any radio or television advertising must also comply with any necessary requirements of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Part 6, Parliamentary Election Programmes.

6 In the event of Vote funded advertising material which is determined as being in breach of these rules, the Speaker will usually require the member to personally reimburse the Vote for the costs incurred.

ENDS

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