PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE FAMILY PARTY
19 November 2007
Electoral Finance Bill, A Blatant Jack-up

Richard Lewis, Leader of The Family Party, says the Electoral Finance Bill is a “jack up” for Labour’s incumbent MP’s to hold on to power at all costs.

He says Labour MP’s will draw on government and party resource to indirectly promote their policies and message over election year, whilst keeping their $20,000 in reserve for the critical 3-month lead up to Election Day. However, from 1 January next year if the bill passes, non-elected contenders will be forced to spread their $20,000 cap over the entire year (as opposed to the traditional 3-month period before Election Day), which severely dilutes their financial position.

“We don’t mind doing the hard yards to prove ourselves in election year. But this situation is inherently unfair because Labour MP's get a huge head start on the field. A colour mail out, a billboard, an advert and some hoardings will blow the roof off their competitor’s budget in a day, let alone 11 months. Let's get real, the bill is a jack-up, a blow to democracy and a last ditch effort by Labour and their support parties to keep power at all costs,” 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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