Silly Electoral Finance Act complaints rejected

Two Electoral Finance Act complaints that were referred to the police before the election have been rejected. Police have written to Mr Anderton saying “no offences were committed in respect of the Electoral Finance Act 2007.”

The complaints were connected to an advertisement placed in the Southland Express newspaper advising about a change in the law to ban BZP, and the publication of Jim Anderton’s electronic newsletter - a summary of his news releases sent out by email.

Jim Anderton says the complaints were frivolous and a waste of police time, and should never have been referred to them by the Electoral Commission.

“This whole episode is a bit like the Australians getting Neil Broom’s wicket the other day - he should have been not out, but it’s a bit late now. Likewise, this complaint should never have been referred by the Commission and the rejection of it post-election is small consolation - the reputational damage, particularly during an election campaign, has been well and truly done.

“The Commission has been cavalier with people’s reputations and with the time and expense involved in addressing these complaints.

“The decision to refer these complaints just before the election, when even the most cursory examination should have shown no offence had been committed, showed poor judgement. The Commission allowed itself to become part of the political contest.

“A conga line of critics of the Act were lining up to say it served me right for voting for the EFA. But there no offence had been committed.

“The Progressives were the only party that didn’t misspend public money promoting ourselves in 2005. It was hardly likely we would then turn around and commit an offence in 2008.

“While I agree the EFA can be improved, I continue to believe political ads should not be published anonymously, and I continue to support reasonable caps on the amount that can be spent to buy an election. The opposition of newspapers motivated by their concern over declining ad revenue does not change my view on this,” Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media