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Shearer accused of politicising MMP debate

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Shearer accused of politicising MMP

3News NZ

David Shearer

David Shearer

Labour Leader David Shearer's being accused of politicising the MMP debate.

The Government's seeking a political consensus on the issue after a review suggested a raft of changes, including lowering the party vote threshold.

But, Mr Shearer says Labour doesn't trust the Government to make the changes and will instead put up its own member's bill.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says she's tried to arrange a meeting with him:

“I haven’t received any info from him at all other than by press release and actually I don’t think that smacks of someone who’s very genuine and he needs to get some better advice than he’s getting now.”

Ms Collins says one of the recommendations is to increase slightly the number of sitting MPs - something she's not in favour of.

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Comments

8/11/2012 4:06:58 a.m.

Daniel Lang wrote:

If the amount of electoral seats was increased by twenty percent; from 120 to 144; Maori seats abolished; and legislation brought in to ensure that no party can stand candidates in more than half, 72, of the electorates, then that would be fairer to all parties concerned and we wouldn't need the small change in the threshold from 5% to 4% because party support for the minor parties would increase. Furthermore, we wouldn't always need a coalition because you could govern alone on, say, 65 seats. Make it one vote, for the seat, and don't worry about voting for the party because that always brings in complications and politicians get appointed to positions that the voting public never wanted.

7/11/2012 5:13:28 p.m.

Daniel Lang wrote:

I think we do need more MP's. It has been a long time since there has been an increase, the population of this country has expanded rapidly during that time and I think there have been a lot of instances recently that have proven that the current number of MP's isn't working effectively.

7/11/2012 3:52:02 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "The Government's seeking a political consensus on the issue after a review suggested a raft of changes, including lowering the party vote threshold. But, Mr Shearer says Labour doesn't trust the Government to make the changes and will instead put up its own member's bill."
The MMP review bill is now up for debate by parliament and Mr Shearer doesnt wish to participate and wants to introduce a private members bill to debate a review of MMP. What is his point? Stop wasting time Mr Shearer! I agree with @GREG wrote that List MPs should be relegated to the back benches as the electorate did not vote for these sponges on Parliament and I agree with Minister Judy Collins that we do not need more MP's.



7/11/2012 1:24:39 p.m.

peace wrote:

Pita Sharples is a very educated Maori man that makes sense and its time to put it into practice.

7/11/2012 12:30:48 p.m.

Daniel Lang wrote:

Labour will put their own bill forward because that is the way Shearer likes to do things, proper and professionally.

7/11/2012 9:25:33 a.m.

M wrote:

Sneaky National party trying to throw the MMP ball into Labours court. National has the power to adopt all recommendations, Labour has publically indicated it supports all recommendations, so National, just get on with it, stop beating around the bush.

7/11/2012 9:17:55 a.m.

Greg wrote:

Our MMP systems needs fine tuning. It really still just makes government a party parliamentary tyranny, paying lip service to democracy. What needs to be changed is the party reflection on voters mandate. List MPs should be relegated to the back benchers. This would do two things. It would give the cabinate a electorate voice and real voter mandate, second it would stop party cronyism and subvert the power of money party backers and snouts in the trough of self interested MPs playing the party game. Until this happens MMP hasnt made that much of a difference to our goverment, its just a set of new clothes that they can admire themselves in. This would stop one seat wonders riding a tired mule in a steeplechase.

7/11/2012 9:16:31 a.m.

Mike wrote:

A politician politicising?!? wow. I think you will find the other politicians accusing him of doing that are also slyly politicising against him as well.

7/11/2012 8:49:52 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

The Labour Party need to recover and rebuild their party up to meet the terms and conditions if failed, and the next on the list will be Turia and Pita Sharple the new Prime Minister of New Zealand followed by two other main Parties.

7/11/2012 8:26:25 a.m.

roses wrote:

If David Shearer fails then Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia will continue on as the new Prime Minister of New Zealand follow by NZ1st and the Greens' no problems.