Clark to ensure MMP review

By Bernard Orsman

Labour leader Helen Clark is promising referendums on ending MMP if a parliamentary review of the electoral system finds a strong public mood for change.

She says the electoral system belongs to the voters, who should have the final say on dumping MMP.

But first, Helen Clark told the New Zealand Herald yesterday, the Government should stick with a parliamentary review of the system.

Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has said National would bypass the review and hold two referendums in the next three years to allow a replacement voting system to be implemented for the 2002 election.

Mrs Shipley has argued that the issue is too big to leave to a handful of MPs.

However, her plans have been thwarted by Act.

National would need Act's support to pass legislation to introduce the double referendum. But Act, and other small parties, are likely to lose seats in Parliament under any move away from a proportional voting system.

Helen Clark said Mrs Shipley wanted to "jump the gun."

"I have always said it is very important to stick to the process. The Electoral Act said there will be a [parliamentary select committee] review in the year 2000 and you must let that occur and let the whole range of public opinion come out and move from there.

"If the public mood against MMP continues to be adverse then it seems to me highly likely the select committee report will reflect that, and then we will be bound to go down the road of more referenda."

She said the process would take time, but it would be possible to hold a first indicative referendum within three years.

Helen Clark said the results of a referendum at the November 27 election, on reducing the number of MPs from 120 to 99, should not be tackled in isolation but referred to the select committee as part of a wider review of the electoral system.