Let the cartoons begin …

The Guy Body cartoon in today’s Herald does the job nicely, along with the Editorial titled “Advocacy Free Speech Threatened” which indeed it is.  Some extracts:

A nine-month restriction of free speech is unnecessary and probably untenable.

This bill would curb the free speech of any individual or group who wants to promote any social interest that might favour a party or candidate at the election.

The definition of political advertising has been broadened by the bill from the usual one, material that seeks to persuade people to support a candidate or party, to anything “taking a position with which one or more parties or one or more candidates is associated”. This is fraught with dangers.

But you know the worst thing about this vile legislation?  Normally if a law is proposed that you think is appalling and you want to stop it, you’ll come out and say I’ll campaign against any party or MP which votes for this bill.  And this is how it is meant to be – MPs should be accountable for their votes.  So if for example Parliament voted to confiscate land from Maori tribes, one would want to be able to say any MP who votes for this confiscation will be targeted at the next election.

But the absolutely appalling thing about this law, is it will protect the MPs who vote for it, from being held accountable for their vote.  Yes one will only be able to spend $60,000 targeting MPs who vote away your right to criticise, because duh that criticism will now be regulated and restricted.

Now just think about what sorts of laws could be passed in future if the Electoral Finance Bill is passed.  A Muldoon type PM would love it.  Not only are your critics restricted to each spending no more than $60,000 (on all issues), if they try and work together on a co-ordinated campaign then they can go to jail for colluding against the Government.