Green MP Sue Bradford has proposed a private member’s bill to get Parliament to change the law on citizens-initiated referendums, so the public do not face confusing questions.
Ms Bradford's move follows the controversy over the smacking referendum, which New Zealand will be asked to vote on in a few weeks.
If the law change goes ahead, it will be Ms Bradford's fourth successful private member's bill.
Ms Bradford says she is trying to clear up the confusion surrounding referendums.
“I'm trying to end the practise whereby we have these really confused questions,” she says.
“Basically the bill requires the Clerk of the House not to accept questions that are complex, ambiguous or that are leading or misleading.”
The question, “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence?” has been criticised by parliamentarians, including the Prime Minister.
John Key says it is important that referendum questions be clear to the public.
“The one that's currently before the New Zealand public, or will be in a few weeks time, we believe to be quite ambiguous,” he says.
A private member’s bill can only get a hearing if it is chosen from a ballot, but the Government can adopt such a bill - guaranteeing its progress.
Mr Key says the Government is contemplating adopting the bill because the referendum is so expensive.
“We may consider supporting that on the basis that holding a referendum is very expensive,” says Mr Key.
“I think it's in the public interest that we have a question that is comprehendible.”
Ms Bradford says her bill will achieve clarity in referendum question making, but not at the expense of democratic freedom.
“It also gives anyone that's putting up a question the right to keep coming back until their question is ok, because we don't want to end democracy in terms of people's right to do these referenda,” she says.
Ms Bradford is likely to get cross-party support for her bill, except from the ACT Party.
ACT’s John Boscawen turned on the Prime Minister over the law change which prompted this referendum.
“Why does the Prime Minister continue to support legislation that makes a smack for the purposes of correction a criminal offence?” he asks.
In his defence, Mr Key says he believes the current law is working.
“I've given New Zealand parents a commitment that if the law didn't work I would change it and I stand by that commitment, but I have seen no evidence to date that the law is not working,” he says.
The overwhelming view in Parliament has emerged that the current referendum is a waste of $9 million.
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