26 Jan 2009

Parties consulted over electoral finance regime

8:11 pm on 26 January 2009

The Government has begun consulting political parties on an interim electoral finance regime.

The National Party promised before the election last year to repeal the controversial Electoral Finance Law passed in 2007 by the former Labour government.

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Simon Power says the Government is talking with other political parties ahead of drafting the interim regime, to be introduced to Parliament in February.

The Government aims to have it passed through Parliament before 26 February - the end of National's first 100 days in office.

Under the interim rules, only the section of the 2007 law relating to donations will be retained and relevant sections of the 1993 Electoral Act will be reinstated.

The spokesperson says the Government hopes to have new electoral finance laws in place before the next election.