Reasons to make a submission on the Electoral Finance Bill by Steven Price

We think the government needs to be urged to tackle the problem of huge donations to political parties routed through secret trusts. We think parties should have to reveal the identities of their big donors. The government originally planned to include this, but dropped it.

You’ve probably also heard about the problems in the bill with its restrictions on third party speech. These are real. However, we think it’s important that the baby doesn’t get thrown out with the bathwater. It is important to put reasonable restrictions on third parties like the Exclusive Brethren with big chequebooks to prevent them using money to unduly influence election results.

Making a submission is as easy as sending a quick email (you can do it through www.cog.org.nz) (though it will be more impressive if it’s done on paper - and addressed to the Justice and Electoral select committee at Parliament. No postage needed.)

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about this.

Steven Price
Spokesperson, Coalition for Open Government
(Also adjunct lecturer at VUW’s law school)
04 463 6336

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