13 May 2014

PM rejects tax funded campaigning

8:29 am on 13 May 2014

The Prime Minister says opposition parties have revealed a clear agenda behind recent attacks on National Party fundraising efforts.

The Labour and Green Party have been accusing the National Party and its MPs of giving special treatment to wealthy donors.

And the Greens have suggested tax-payer funded election campaigns as a way of reducing the influence of money in politics.

But John Key doesn't agree.

He says he'd be absolutely amazed if the public wanted to pay for political parties' campaigns - particularly Labour's or the Greens'.

Labour leader David Cunliffe says the public should consider whether state-funded campaigns are a possible solution to reducing the influence of money in politics.

But he says it is important every dollar of tax is well spent.

David Cunliffe says any conversation about publicly funded election campaigns won't take place before the election.