KEY POINTS:
Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen today admitted that plans for state-funding of election campaigns appear to be dead in the water.
New Zealand First and United Future, possible supporters of the legislation, have in recent weeks made it clear they oppose a move to largely state-funded election campaigns - there is already some state funding - and now the Maori Party has also come down against it.
The Government is preparing legislation to revamp election spending rules after controversies following the 2005 general election over inappropriate use of taxpayer funds, third-party support and secret donations.
Asked today if he thought Labour would get the numbers it needed to put changes through Parliament, Dr Cullen told Newstalk ZB: "Not on the state funding side, no."
But he added: "I am quite sure we will have support for some quite major reforms of electoral spending."
He said this would cover issues such as transparency of donations.
No formal proposals have been released, but informal ones included tightening the rules around anonymous donations and third-party campaigns.
It is suggested the cost of such campaigns would be capped at $60,000.
A $10 million, three-year boost in state funding for parties has also been mooted.
Justice Minister Mark Burton yesterday said he will not be worried if a proposal to state fund elections is dropped.
The Government and Greens were outraged at the last election when the Exclusive Brethren put out pamphlets smearing the two parties in a million-dollar campaign.
Speaking on TVNZ's Agenda programme, Mr Burton said he would not be worried if the state-funding proposal was dropped.
"We've got to put together a package that can enjoy significant support in order to progress," he said.
"Whether ... it includes state funding is not of great consequence compared to the overarching rationale for this package - that is, an open, transparent, fair electoral process."
Mr Burton said the main goal was to prevent a repeat of the "sort of hidden transactions that characterised the 2005 election by the Exclusive Brethren".
National deputy leader Bill English welcomed smaller parties' opposition to state funding, and said the Greens should follow suit. National is angry that Labour failed to consult it on proposals. "Labour needs to stop the shadow boxing and open up the process."
On Agenda, Act leader Rodney Hide was scathing about the "closed doors" approach to handling the proposals.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
