Better Democracy New Zealand supports Green Party paying signature collectors

June 19, 2012 – Criticism of the Green Party using their Leaders Fund money to pay Asset Sale referendum signature collectors is unjustifiable, according to democracy campaigners, Better Democracy New Zealand.

Steve Baron, Founder and spokesperson for Better Democracy New Zealand says, “The sale of State owned assets has become a controversial issue and if Members of Parliament from the Green Party want to ensure a referendum is triggered, thereby allowing New Zealanders to have a say on this issue, then they have little alternative but to pay signature collectors, given the high threshold requirement.”

Better Democracy New Zealand has campaigned for many years for Citizens’ Initiated Referendums to be binding on the government as well as to have the Veto Referendum and Recall Referendum introduced into the New Zealand political system. They also recommend the required signature threshold be reduced to a more realistic level of 100,000.

"What the Greens are doing is within Parliamentary rules and is far more appropriate than what most Leaders Fund monies are spent on," says Mr Baron, "it is also innovative and shows the Green Party is making a serious effort to have the voices of New Zealanders heard on this issue."

Paying signature collectors is common place around the world, especially so in California and a number of political parties in Switzerland, including the Swiss Green Party, often use paid signature collectors. The cost is usually between $1.30 and $2.60 (NZD) per signature collected.

Mr Baron feels that the more New Zealanders can be included in deciding important issues, the better.

"Experience has shown that political parties and their leaders do not always make the best decisions. Even when voters choose a political party, they are unlikely to agree with every policy of that party. Unfortunately, electing a political party means a bundled package of policies. Direct democracy unbundles that package and allows voters to make important choices themselves."

Mr Baron says, “For me personally, I would trust the collective wisdom of New Zealand voters over the collective wisdom of a small group of Cabinet Ministers, on any issue.”

ENDS

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