KEY POINTS:
The definition of advertising in electoral finance legislation is so wide it might catch some newspaper websites and blogs, says National Party deputy leader BillEnglish.
The Electoral Finance Bill tightens the rules around parties' election campaign advertising and spending.
It also puts a $60,000 cap on advertisements by non-political party groups on anything associated with policy or candidates in election year and requires anyone planning to spend more than $5000 to register with the Chief Electoral Officer.
National has attacked the legislation as being a drift net to silence critics.
The Government has said it is necessary to end massive third-party campaigns like that of the Exclusive Brethren during the last election, but has acknowledged it might need changes.
Mr English yesterday continued his attack on the bill, saying its definition of media was so narrow it might exclude newspaper websites and journalists' blogs, meaning they would be caught by the bill's wide advertising provisions.
"A newspaper website as opposed to the newspaper itself may not be exempt and certainly journalists' blogs, such as those that are regularly published now willcertainly count as election advertising," he told Parliament. But Justice Minister Mark Burton, who refused to directly answer Mr English's questions, said he was merely speculating.
Questions about the bill would be answered at select committee hearings, where MPs would receive expert advice about how key sections of the bill would be interpreted, he said.
But Mr English said if Mr Burton could not give a clear answer to questions about the bill after 18 months work on it, then how would police be able to clearly apply the law.
Mr Burton said the bill was to provide a level playing field with a neutral referee - something National appeared opposed to.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters also mounted a defence of the bill, saying some action had to be taken to tighten electoral laws after the $1 million-plus campaign by the "chauvinist, racist" Exclusive Brethren.
- NZPA
