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Call for Majority of Parliament

To Demand Election Day Referendum

Family First Media Release 25 June 2008
Family First NZ has written to the leaders of National, Act, NZ First, United Future and the two independent MP’s asking that they form a majority and require the anti-smacking Referendum to be held on Election Day.

Under section 22AA (5) of the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993, a Referendum can be scheduled for polling day if the “House of Representatives passes a resolution requiring the indicative referendum to be held on the polling day for the general election.”

“That is an ordinary 50% majority vote,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “ We are therefore calling on National, Act, NZ First, United Future and the two independent MP’s to acknowledge the voice of over 350,000 people and require that the Referendum be held at the most obvious and cost-efficient time of the upcoming election.”

“ Any party that votes against this proposal should have the $10 million that it will cost to do a postal ballot charged against their election expenses ,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“If Sir Robert Muldoon could call a 1984 snap election just four weeks before polling day, and the-then National Government in 1999 take only a week to determine Norm Withers’ petition for a referendum on violent crime would be held on election day, it proves that the Prime Minister’s claim that there is not enough time is a cynical and desparate attempt to sweep the issue under the carpet and undermine democracy.”

If the Prime Minister goes ahead and forces the Governor-General to declare that it be held by postal voting, then the majority of Parliament can still require the voting period to close on the day of the general election - s22AB(6)(b)

“This is second best as it is a completely unnecessary waste of taxpayer money,” says Mr McCoskrie.

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View the Act: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0101/latest/DLM318489.html

LETTER

We are asking that you form a majority in the House and require the anti-smacking Referendum to be held on Election Day.

Under section 22AA (5) of the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993, a Referendum can be scheduled for polling day if the “House of Representatives passes a resolution requiring the indicative referendum to be held on the polling day for the general election.”

That is a simple 50% majority vote.

We are asking you and your party to acknowledge the voice of over 350,000 people who have signed the petitions and require that the Referendum be held at the most obvious and cost-efficient time of the upcoming election.

If the Prime Minister goes ahead and forces the Governor-General to declare that it be held by postal voting, then the majority of Parliament can still require the voting period to close on the day of the general election – s22AB(6)(b). This is second best as it is a completely unnecessary waste of taxpayer money.

If Sir Robert Muldoon could call a 1984 snap election just four weeks before polling day, and the Government in 1999 could take only a week to determine Norm Withers’ petition for a referendum on violent crime would be held on election day, it proves that the Prime Minister’s claim that there is not enough time is an attempt to sweep the issue under the carpet and undermine democracy.

The ability to get 390,000 signatures on a petition is a major feat in itself. Please help us uphold democracy in New Zealand.

www.familyfirst.org.nz

TAKE ACTION: Email the Prime Minister and John Key demanding that a Referendum be held at the upcoming Election

pm@ministers.govt.nz john.key@parliament.govt.nz

MEDIA RELEASE

23 June 2008

Family First NZ is shocked and angry that the Prime Minister is willing to consider spending over $10 million of taxpayers’ money on the anti-smacking Referendum to be held separately from the upcoming election rather than holding it during the upcoming election, which is the most natural timing for it.

“Helen Clark says that Parliament had spoken on the issue with a near “unanimous mind”. What she fails to say is that both the major parties were ‘whipped’ to vote for the bill, which is highly ironic considering it is the anti-smacking bill,” says Mr McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “The bill would have been dead and buried otherwise, as NZ’ers wanted.”

“She also fails to hear the voice of over 390,000 signatories who oppose the law change and are demanding a Referendum, and the 80%-plus who want the law changed according to latest polls.”

“Unless the PM is holding the election before 23 September, the perfect and most economical time to hold the Referendum is Election day in October or November, and any later timing is simply a cynical attempt to try and prevent the voice of NZ’ers being heard.”

“It would be a sad day for democracy and fairness if that happened.”

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie JP – National Director

Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

TAKE ACTION: Email the Prime Minister and John Key demanding that a Referendum be held at the upcoming Election
pm@ministers.govt.nz john.key@parliament.govt.nz

Change anti-smacking bill

http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=d940f08208494429a4590423b5f9b6cf

Thursday, 29 May 2008
By George Patterson

When National becomes the Government, as I’m sure they will, I hope they have another look at the anti-smacking legislation. It is based on flawed ideology.

I believe the vast majority of New Zealanders are not child-beaters, but we feel that we should have the right to reprimand our youngsters when they have done something wrong. Again, I don’t think my mother caused me any harm when she gave me a slap around the legs with the thin willow switch because I wouldn’t stop kicking the football against the kitchen wall. And when I broke the window and scampered, I know I deserved the couple of swipes she aimed at me.

I know that the tragic deaths of the Kahui twins and other children suggests the legislation is right. But surely that’s different.

George Patterson