Chester Borrows: Many people around world would love our political clout

Chester Borrows PHOTO/FILE

A DAY in the life of a Member of Parliament at work in Wellington can oscillate between hot interest and desperately trying to stay awake.

No surprises there, and it underlines why people are sceptical of the role of politicians in their lives and the need to engage in the election system.

One select committee I have been sitting on is considering a report from the Election Commission specifically about voter participation. There is a marked downturn in enrolments and, in actual voting, skewed against voters less than 40 years of age, with the least participation in those 18-24 years.

One precursor to apathy in the young is apathy in their parents. If mum and dad don't vote, why should I bother to vote?

The other disincentive is the lack of benefits to voting. Think of the hoops we go through to get a driver's licence ... but the benefit is you can legally drive. Far less trouble to enrol and then vote, but where is the incentive?

I can't help think that political parties have done this to New Zealand. We have seen parties change their colours in the past few decades ...

National moving to the left and becoming socialist in the 1980s and Labour moving to the right to become rabid capitalists through until 1990; then Labour changing back on going into opposition, while National switched back to being ultra-conservative on regaining government, and not coming through with the very policies they campaigned on to win that election in 1990. This led to a huge downturn in membership of both parties and brought on a huge lack of confidence about whether voting actually achieved anything.

On winning elections, both parties introduced and maintained policies that got the state out of our lives more and more, reducing levels of intervention and reliance on government agencies. The great age of apathy began.

Hard case, then, that engagement with government and parliament can be so easy.

Today, in two select committees, we considered petitions from five different people seeking intervention in government policies and the way people have been dealt with or dealt to.

One local woman came before the justice and electoral committee petitioning about a parent's right to know their under 16-year-old daughter was pregnant before she was referred for an abortion.

It is a tragic story and Hillary Keift came to Parliament and spoke in an open public session and appeared on television. Nine MPs from all parties listened intently, and the petition will be reported back to Parliament, with the Minister of Justice bound to respond within 90 days.

So you cannot legislate that people must be interested in government - or even take part. Making voting mandatory won't ensure all eligible voters get out and vote, as much as I strongly believe taking part in an election critical to good government.

As somebody once said: "People get the government they deserve." But it is very cool to live in a country where, for the sake of writing a letter (and no need for a stamp), a Minister of the Crown can be forced to respond.

Many people around the world would love to have that level of political clout.