Boscawen on EFB

The Herald talks to John Boscawen on his opposition to the Electoral Finance Bill.  He notes that having spent $50,000 fighting against it, he is almost at the limit of what he could spend in election year.

Mr Boscawen, an Act Party member since 1994, jokes he has found himself in the peculiar position of “spending thousands of dollars to promote the views of a former trade unionist” – referring to Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan, who has also called for the bill to be scrapped.

He says Ms Noonan is “principled and courageous” for speaking out against a bill that is promoted by the party which appointed her.

He said he would be prepared to spend up to $250,000 in his campaign against what he claims will set up “the most restrictive parliamentary democracy in the Western world”.

“I’m not rich. I am comfortable. I live on Paritai Drive, but I’m not even remotely close to the Rich List. You must surely understand we are talking about how democracy runs in New Zealand. You can’t put a price on that.”

John is prepared to fight this Bill, not just until it is passed, but right up until the next election.

The bill also prompted lawyer Colin Pidgeon, QC, to make the first select committee submission he has made as an individual.

He said it was “absolutely disastrous” legislation, and agreed that a singer could potentially breach the law by advocating in song for a position held by a political party.

I suspect for many people it was their first ever submission to a select committee.