KEY POINTS:
National's last-minute push for the Government to delay the start date of electoral law reform is set to fall on deaf ears today.
When Parliament sits today it is likely to complete the committee stage of the Electoral Finance Bill.
This is the last chance to amend the bill and National is pushing for the date it comes into force to be moved from January 1 to April 1.
A spokesman for Justice Minister Annette King said National was welcome to put any amendments it wished, but this would not be supported by the Government.
The Greens and New Zealand First are also unlikely to support the amendment, which means it will be defeated.
National's deputy leader Bill English said there was still confusion among ministers, officials and legal experts about what the bill meant.
"What chance do the public have of understanding it?" Mr English asked. "Supporters of this bill have often used the British example to justify regulating free speech from January 1 in election year.
"However, what they don't say is that Britain also chose to delay the start of the regulated period until 5 1/2 months before the election in 2001. This was the first time the rules had applied in Britain and two and a half months were given to allow for greater understanding about the changes.
"Here in New Zealand, Labour plans to give us around a week."
Mr English predicted there would be a rash of test cases before the court as precedents were sought to determine what the law meant and how it would be applied.
The controversial bill dominated Parliament last week and will do so again today.
It is unclear yet when Parliament will rise for the summer recess.
Leader of the House Michael Cullen indicated last week that Parliament could go into urgency after the committee stages of the Electoral Finance Bill.
Dr Cullen has 12 bills he wants to be introduced into Parliament and sent to select committee before the adjournment. This includes the bill setting up a climate change emissions trading scheme. There is also a bill covering changes to tax law and KiwiSaver, which Dr Cullen wants passed through all stages.
The indications are that Parliament could still sit next Tuesday to complete the final debate and vote on the Electoral Finance Bill, before the set piece adjournment debate ends the year.
- NZPA
