Media Release: Campaign for MMP
Monday May 2, 2011

Brash backs SM: public have right to know who’s behind it

The public has a right to know who is backing a discredited electoral system that only 1 in 20 voters supported when it was last put to the vote, and that is blatantly unfair, Campaign for MMP said today.

Don Brash has today come out in support of the Supplementary Member (SM) voting system, ahead of the MMP referendum on November 26.

“SM is an unpopular and discredited electoral system that sustains the worst aspects of First Past the Post,” said Sandra Grey, Campaign for MMP spokesperson.

“Only 5.6% of New Zealanders supported SM the last time it was tested, at the 1992 referendum. More recently only 4% supported SM in last year’s UMR poll, down from 9% in their 2009 poll.”

“The 1986 Royal Commission discredited the system also.”

“Under SM the votes of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders will be wasted as people’s choice of party would only be allocated to 30 lists seats.”

“Just like First Past the Post, this is likely to mean New Zealand will be governed by a political party that does not have the support of a majority of voters.”

“Given SM is so discredited, New Zealanders have a right to know who is behind the push to adopt this system, what their interests are, and why they are so keen to have a system which will turn up unfair results,” Sandra Grey said.

Ends.

Notes:

1 - Don Brash's comments are here.

2 - The 1986 Royal Commission report is here.

3 - The UMR survey is here.

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