The public is finally about to get to see what party finance reforms are to implemented by Labour as a result of its horse-trading with the Greens, NZ First, and United Future. The Government has continued its backroom dealings - against popular and political opposition - to try and sew up a majority in order to push through changes to electoral rules that will advantage the Labour Party and disadvantage its opposition.
Newsroom reports that the smaller parties have been brought off with concessions relating to the process of allocating election broadcast funding. Unsurprisingly, the minor parties have never been happy that the Electoral Commision coopts National and Labour representatives into the decision-making process when it divides up the cash for parties at election time. This is of course incredibly unfair and undemocratic. But it's not the only unfair and undemocratic part of the process - the funds are divided up in a very inequitable way that rewards the big parties and reinforces the status quo. So even if the membership of Commission changes, it'd be interesting to see if the minor parties are willing to go along with the generally unjust method they use. They minor parties have certainly been willing to go along with Labour's generally very poor approach to this highly important area, so I don't have much hope for them showing much independence or principle on the bigger issues.
