The letter 'MP Bridges responds: No plans to change” (20 December 2012) by Hon.Simon Bridges, is, in my opinion, appalling.
Firstly, it is too brief considering Simon gets to ramble on ad infinitem in this paper, The BOP Times, The Herald and TVNZ on nice safe topics without hard questions ever being asked of him.
Secondly he writes that if there were to be constitutional changes there would need to be broad cross party agreement. What! There was broad cross party agreement on Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill (very broad in fact - only six voted against it) or, a referendum.Really? Binding? 66% majority requirement? or just 51% as was the case with MMP?
NZ First has now for many years, following the advice of the recommendation of the MMP royal commission, promised to abolish the Maori Seats when next in power. Roll on 2014.
This 'secret” constitutional review makes the 'let's change the flag” and 'let's be a republic” issues look dead tame. All three issues are just smokescreen distractions for John Key and National's bad governance.
There has been no public input into these secret constitutional changes - only Maori ones and we will soon be presented with a fait accompli.
Hylton Rhodes, Tauranga.
1 comment
Broad cross party aggreement
Posted on 18-01-2013 14:35 | By dclyle
I fully endorse the comments of Hylton Rhodes and others who query the statements of MP Simon Bridges and would go further to say that anything other than a binding referendum result, would be bordering on being illegal and unenforceable, as well as being unethical, immoral and downright wrong. Apart from the fact that we have not needed a written constitution so far, this is a matter that affects every citizen and should be decided on by every eligible voter, not by parliment parties with their own self-serving agendas.
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