KEY POINTS:
The head of the Electoral Commission says her agency could end up with thousands of dollars worth of crayfish under controversial new election spending measures.
Dr Helena Catt mentioned the fish as an example of uncertainty around the redrafted Electoral Finance Bill as the National Party kept up its attack on apparent loopholes in the bill.
Under new protected disclosure provisions in the bill, the commission takes donations of more than $1000 if the giver wishes to remain anonymous and passes them to political parties
"But donations are money, goods and services," Dr Catt said, "so if you wanted to give $3000 worth of wood to a political party or 300 crayfish and remain anonymous, you would have to give it to us and we would have to do something with the wood or crayfish before we could pass it on."
She said she hoped the law would be amended to ensure donations made under the protected disclosure rules would be monetary only.
National Party deputy leader Bill English said the bill prevented Television New Zealand screening party advertisements because Government entities, including crown- owned companies, "may not publish or cause or permit to be published any election advertisement".
Justice Minister Annette King said the Broadcasting Act would allow the television network to broadcast such advertisements.
However, there is no provision in either act to state which act prevails - and Ms King later effectively admitted Mr English had a point by issuing a press release saying she had asked officials to look into it.
She has promised that "the law of common sense" would deal with remaining anomalies in the bill.
On Radio NZ National yesterday, Dr Catt echoed the phrase, saying her agency did not want to have to interpret the law of common sense.
