Having welcomed in the New Year last night, Kiwis woke up in 2008 to find their freedom of speech severely curtailed - even if they don’t know it. The curtailment in question comes from the Electoral Finance Bill which came into effect today.
“If ever there were a time to openly break a law, it is now. Bugger registering to have your say and bugger staying silent,”
The immediate effect of the bill will not become apparent until the electioneering starts in earnest - that’s when we will see the parties start to use the draconian rules to shut down other parties’ advertising, gag competing interest groups, and get billboards removed. Labour, meanwhile, is allowed to use OUR money to advertise how much good Labour policies are doing for schoolteachers, recreational fishermen, model train enthusiasts and single breastfeeding mothers.
“In 2005 Labour flouted election laws by stealing public money to buy propaganda. In 2006, they abandoned all constitutional norms and retrospectively changed the law so that they wouldn’t be called into the High Court to answer for that action. This year the government has passed legislation allowing them to steal far more at the next election. Worst of all, the Clark regime is now trying to ram through legislation that would ban me from pointing out that they are behaving like tyrants and telling people not to vote for them.”
Remember, don’t vote Labour. Vote Libertarianz.
For the record, my name is Luke Howison, and my address is none of your business.
