2. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by her reported statement, in relation to the Electoral Finance Bill, that “some definitions might need changing but Mr Key is exaggerating the impact of the Bill.”?
Does the Prime Minister consider that the Human Rights Commission’s non-partisan comment on the bill is also exaggerating when it states: “The bill in its current form represents a dramatic assault on two fundamental human rights that New Zealanders cherish, freedom of expression and the right of informed citizens to participate in the electoral process,”; if so, why?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Yes, because the Government’s legal advice is that this is not inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
Why does the Electoral Finance Bill restrict everyone else’s freedom of speech in an election year while allowing the Government to spend literally millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money on advertising campaigns, and can the Prime Minister outline what big advertising campaigns the Government is proposing for election year 2008?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The member would be well aware that under existing law the Government cannot be political in advertising campaigns. Further, if the member wants campaigns against drunk driving to stop in an election year, would he let me know.
Does the Prime Minister want to reflect on the statement she just made to the House that the Government cannot be political in advertising in an election year, because although she is probably aware that on 13 September 2007 the Ministry of Health released a media release stating that an advertising campaign would start around primary health care, which would include, amongst other things, an 0800 call line, she is probably not aware that I have in my hand something that was not publicly released—the instructions for those manning the 0800 call line, which state that operators should push the Government’s message whenever they think there is a good opportunity to do so?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
That is a bit desperate. I assume the member does not want people to know that their doctor’s fees have virtually halved under current policy.
Why, in this document, are call centre staff being told: “Here are some achievements and milestones in health over the past 6 years. It may help to tell callers about some of these.”—and then it lists every strategy, policy, or guideline that Labour has rolled out since 2001; and how does that help someone who is ringing the 0800 line?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is actually a duty of a Government to make sure that policies that are being pursued, and the taxpayer is paying for, are actually known about.
What message does it send to the many thousands of New Zealanders who are sick, who will know they will have to use Government money, and access Government-provided health care, for them to know that a top priority of this Government is to pour that money into an election advertising campaign in election year, for no other purpose than to see Labour get re-elected?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is a great comfort to the general public to know how committed Labour is to a public health system, and how the National Party’s plans are around privatisation and cutting public spending on health.
Why does the Prime Minister not just tell New Zealanders what they probably already know: that the purpose of the Electoral Finance Bill is to limit the amount of money her political opponents can spend in election year, while at exactly the same time the Government spends as much taxpayer dollars as it can seeking re-election; and in some countries of the world they have a name for that sort of stuff?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The purpose of the bill is to stop people like John Key working with people like the Exclusive Brethren to rort election spending law.
Hon Peter DunneCan the Prime Minister tell the House what she was referring to when she said in the quote that is in the original question: “some definitions might need changing”; what definitions are they, and what changes is she considering?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
A number of issues are coming through in the submissions. One is about the definition of election advertising. There are other issues being raised about thresholds for funding and donations, and another about time periods. Those are all legitimate areas for discussion that the select committee is looking at.
Heather RoyWhat is the time frame for the Government to announce the changes to the Electoral Finance Bill, and will there be an opportunity for the public to make submissions on these changes?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
A select committee process is under way. The normal course of events is for the Government officials to work with the select committee, and, at some point, for Ministers to discuss what proposals might be worth considering, and work with other parties on that. That is how a select committee process works.
Why did the Prime Minister not just not answer the question I asked her before, but say something that was blatantly not true: that the Government would not be using taxpayer funds to push political messages—when this document does exactly that; and is it not the priority of the Government to spend money on health services, not on a propaganda campaign?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
At the end of today I am going to be launching a new campaign to promote women taking up cervical screening. That is what public health promotion is about.