MEDIA RELEASE
12 November 2008

Comments Welcomed from Goff on EFA
Family First NZ is welcoming comments by new Labour leader Phil Goff that the Electoral Finance law needs a review.

“The Election debate was effectively muted by the Electoral Finance Act and as a result, important discussion and debate on issues relating to policy didn’t happen as they should,”says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“The law was so confusing that it was impossible to get a definitive statement from either the Electoral Commission or independent legal advice as to whether certain advertising would be caught under the Act. This uncertainty made many groups unwilling to take the risk.”

“It is highly ironic that all the political parties that voted for the Electoral Finance Act fell foul of it, and that at the same time as they were clamping down on third parties’spending, they were passing legislation that validated their own overspending.”

“During an election year, the voters have as much right to be heard as the people wanting to be voted for.”

Mr Goff’s comments suggests a new openness from the Labour party to debate and discussion of policy which Family First warmly welcomes.

ENDS

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