Media Statement

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Friday, 18 November 2011

Open government starts with election spending promises – Dunne

Labour’s open government policy, does not address the real issue of transparency in New Zealand politics – uncosted dubious election promises, said UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne.

“Labour’s policy is fine and worthy but do re-publishing Hansard and broadcasting select committee meetings really deliver transparency when parties spending promises and the figures they base them on are so debateable,” said Mr Dunne.

“What the public want to know is whether or not they can fundamentally believe politicians when political parties disagree so obviously on policy costings.”

“This week I called for an independent panel of “number crunchers” to test parties’ policy costings going into each election.”

“An election campaign is when the public is most engaged with the political debate, meaning open government and transparent policy is more important than at any other stage of the electoral cycle.”

“Voters would be far better served by an independent examination of political parties spending promises than just fiddling around with the bureaucracy of Parliament,” said Mr Dunne

ENDS

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