PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FAMILY PARTY

17 November 2007

Labour’s Appropriation Bill Democratically ‘Inappropriate”

Richard Lewis, Leader of The Family Party, is calling Labour’s Appropriation Bill “democratically inappropriate” and a “pre-emptive strike” on unelected contenders ahead of the 2008 election.

Labour’s Appropriation (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill will allow incumbent MP’s to utilise massive public funds to promote their message without costing against their election expense caps. Alternatively, the same material produced by non-elected contenders (from January 1) will likely be deemed an election expense, which severely disadvantages their position.

“Clearly, Labour is so desperate to hold on to power they will stop at nothing in the interests of self preservation. I suspect their 2005 law change to retrospectively legalise their ‘illegal’ election spending has seared their collective conscience. If they think these most recent antics will intimidate contenders like The Family Party, they better think again. This manipulation of New Zealand’s system of democracy just strengthens our resolve to dig deeper and fight harder,” says Mr Lewis.

Lewis says he and Deputy Leader, former MP Paul Adams, have been working hard as The Family Party mounts a major campaign in South Auckland for the Labour-held seats of Mangere and Manukau. In early December the party will open their Headquarters in the Mangere Community Hub with an outpost in the Mangere town centre.

“The Family Party is about representing the best interests of New Zealand families, not political parties,” he added.

ends

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