KEY POINTS:
The arch-critics of Government plans to reform election finance law, the Human Rights Commission, will provide official advice to the select committee considering the Electoral Finance Bill.
Act leader Rodney Hide persuaded a majority of the justice and electoral select committee to invite the commission to help in rewriting the bill.
The commission has been a staunch critic of the bill, describing it as a "dramatic assault" on fundamental human rights.
It prefers it be withdrawn but has suggested ways it could be improved.
Mr Hide said yesterday that he had tried to have the bill withdrawn but had failed.
"I think the bill as it stands is an affront to freedom of speech and political expression and so, too, does the Human Rights Commission, so I thought it was a good idea to seek their help," Mr Hide said.
The commission was an independent body that could not be leaned on and one that would be very hard for the Government to ignore, he said.
Mr Hide believes the main target of the bill was early campaigning by the National Party.
