Comment: There’s no doubt economic issues are at the heart of the issues in the up-coming general election.
The cost of living and the capacity of voters to survive in current circumstances constitute a real and urgent issue.
The current economic agenda seems to be rather right-wing and influenced by such organisations as the New Zealand Initiative.
The notion that these business organisations speak to the welfare of the whole population is not self-evident.
However there also exists a whole host of other issues that affect the quality of governance and these also need consideration.
All political parties should be asked to state their policies on all the relevant issues and not evade telling the electorate what their policy is before people vote.
The current Government has enacted laws far too quickly with inadequate consultation or analysis before enactment.
Parties must be asked what their attitude is towards the taking of urgency on legislation in the House of Representatives.
The present coalition Government has taken record amounts or urgency and has also avoided select committee scrutiny altogether on some important bills.
Here are important questions that parties should answer ahead of the poll:
Will political parties support making it obligatory to ensure that all legislation is subject to select committee scrutiny and submissions from the public?
Will they agree that it is time New Zealand stopped being the fastest law-makers in the west?
Will they ensure detailed steps and analysis are public on each bill before it is introduced, including who was consulted, what the result of the consultations were, and what options to the policy chosen were considered?
Will parties stop over-ruling court decisions before the cases have even been completed in the courts, as recently occurred in a climate change case before the Supreme Court? (Such an approach is incompatible with a proper understanding of the rule of law in New Zealand).
Will political parties agree to strengthening the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 so it cannot be as easily evaded as it is at present?
What are the party policies on parliamentary reform in order to ensure a closer adherence to fundamental democratic norms?
What are the party policies on the use of fast-track legislation and should it be abolished?
What is the policy of each party on increasing the number of Members of Parliament so as to reduce the degree of executive dictatorship that exists in New Zealand?
What are the party policies on lowering the voting age to 16 years?
What is the policy on appointing the Speaker of the House of Representatives by secret ballot? So the Speaker has independence from the government of the day?
What are the party policies to reform and strengthen the Official Information Act to ensure transparency in public decision-making?
What are the policies on strengthening the law relating to political donations to political parties so that elections are not determined by those with the deepest pockets?
A detailed response from political parties in advance of the general election would enhance democratic accountability.
