Electoral Matters Bill Government Bill Commentary As reported from the Justice and Electoral Committee Recommendation The Justice and Electoral Committee has examined the Electoral Matters Bill and recommends that it be passed with the amendments shown. Introduction The Electoral Matters Bill amends section 55 of the Electoral Act 1993 relating to when a member of Parliament must vacate his or her seat. It also implements procedural and technical amendments to the Electoral Act and to the Broadcasting Act 1989 that were recommended by Justice and Electoral Committee inquiries into the 1996, 1999 and 2002 general elections. The major proposed changes to the electoral broadcasting regime are intended to provide: o that the Electoral Commission will no longer be required to invite all broadcasters to provide free or discounted time for election programmes o that only registered parties will be eligible for allocations of time and money o more clarity around the issue of advertising during opening and closing addresses. This commentary focuses on our main recommendations for amendments to the bill. Creation of vacancies We recommend two amendments to clarify the situations in which members of Parliament must vacate their seats. We support the requirement that a member of Parliament seek a fresh mandate from voters if he or she acquires a fresh foreign allegiance while in office. We recommend that the reference to "foreign State or Power" in new section 55(1)(b) be replaced with a reference to "foreign State, foreign Head of State, or foreign Power". The proposed new wording is intended to cover situations where allegiance is to a "person" rather than to a country or State. We also recommend new section 55(1)(cb) be clarified so that a member of Parliament will have to vacate his or her seat if he or she accepts nomination as a candidate for or agrees to appointment to a governing body which might not have been included in the term "country", for example, an Australian state. We have added to this the word "municipality" which is intended to cover a town or district having local government. Electoral Commission membership We recommend the deletion of clause 8(1), which enables the Electoral Commission to conduct its business under Part VI of the Broadcasting Act 1989 even if only one of the additional members has been appointed. The situation that clause 8(1) provides for is already covered in section 11(4) of the Electoral Act. We also recommend clause 8 be amended to clarify that the additional members of the Electoral Commission are excluded from making up the quorum as well as being present at, and participating in, decisions to refer suspected offences under section 80 to the police. The Green, ACT and United Future members believe it is inappropriate in a multi-party democracy for only two political parties, Labour and National, to be represented on the Electoral Commission, especially when the Commission is responsible for allocating broadcasting funding to all political parties. These members think these positions should be abolished. The New Zealand First member is also concerned about the structure of the Electoral Commission inasmuch it does not truly reflect the makeup of an MMP Parliament, and believes that the Commission should therefore have two additional members, one for New Zealand First and one for the other parties represented in Parliament at the time. Election broadcasting Opening and closing addresses The committee was concerned to not leave open room for undue influence upon the perception of opening and closing broadcasts from the placement or content of advertising that may have political impact. On the other hand we did not wish to try to prescribe timetabling decisions that TVNZ must make to minimise losses of audiences and revenue. The current situation for advertising between opening and closing addresses is ambiguous. Among other things, clause 22 inserts new section 77A into the Broadcasting Act 1989, specifying when opening and closing addresses may be broadcast and when advertising and election programmes may be broadcast. The submission from TVNZ commented that there is no reason not to permit advertising programmes to be broadcast between different opening and closing addresses. TVNZ also noted that it sells advertising time to give effect to its charter, and that it is required to maintain its commercial performance. We recommend an amendment to the provisions covering opening addresses, to add to clause 22 section 77A(3A)(b) the words "that are broadcast on the same night". We strongly recommend opening addresses be held over no more than two nights. One of the reasons for treating closing night addresses differently is the much more limited ability for reply. We encourage the industry to work with the Electoral Commission to develop a code of practice. The ACT member dissents. The member is concerned that these bodies will constrain political discussion, which is a constitutional matter. The ACT member does not support prescription that could further limit free media speech. The member considers the detailed existing prohibitions should be abolished, and that any restrictions should focus on material published over the last few days of an election when there may not be enough time left for debate to correct false claims. Submitting accounts There is currently a 30-working day period within which each political party must submit to the Electoral Commission all accounts relating to expenditure of its allocation. We recommend an amendment to proposed new section 74B(2) in clause 18, to extend this period to 50-working days after the end of the month in which the election was held. The United Future and ACT members consider that there should be a discretion given to the Electoral Commission to pay accounts after the 50-working day period. Circumstances could arise where accounts might not be received by the Electoral Commission through no fault of the broadcaster, political party or Electoral Commission. In that situation the current provision would result in the broadcaster being left out of pocket with no legal ability to recover their debt. Unspent funds We recommend a further amendment to clause 18 to require the Electoral Commission to return any unspent broadcasting funds upon the expiry of the period for the Commission to receive the accounts and any further information that it requires. At present such unspent money must be retained for contingency purposes for at least six years, on the basis that the Commission may receive an account certified as payable to a broadcaster within this time. We consider the Commission should have the obligation to return the funds in question to the Crown, given they are appropriated by Parliament solely for the purpose of enabling parties to meet the costs of broadcasting election programmes. Electoral hoardings We are concerned that variation in local authority rules can unnecessarily impinge on free political speech, and add to the costs of advertising. The New Zealand Labour Party submitted that a provision should be added to the bill to provide for regulations to govern the national standards applying to the use of electoral hoardings. The inclusion of any recommendations in this regard would be outside the scope of this bill (Standing Order 286(1)). We encourage the Minister to address guidelines for hoardings at the Committee of the Whole House stage (if his discussions with the Society of Local Government Managers have not had satisfactory resolution by that time). We propose that minimum levels could be set, where appropriate, for size, content, and display period. We note this proposal corresponds with a recommendation in our Inquiry into the 2002 General Election report; namely, that: Justice and Electoral Committee, Inquiry into the 2002 General Election, p. 6. Amendments to electoral legislation for the 2005 General Election include national guidelines on hoardings. Appendix Committee process The Electoral Matters Bill was referred to the committee on 29 June 2004. The closing date for submissions was 30 July 2004. We received five submissions and heard one of them. Hearing of evidence took 22 minutes and consideration took 4 hours and 55 minutes. We received advice from the Ministry of Justice and the Electoral Commission. Committee membership Tim Barnett, Chairperson (Labour) Stephen Franks, Deputy Chairperson (ACT) Lianne Dalziel (Labour) Russell Fairbrother (Labour) Dave Hereora (Labour) Dail Jones (New Zealand First) Moana Mackey (Labour) Hon Clem Simich (National) Murray Smith (United Future) Nandor Tanczos (Green) Richard Worth (National) Hon Rick Barker Electoral Matters Bill Government Bill Contents 1 Title 2 Commencement Part 1 Amendments to Electoral Act 1993 3 Electoral Act 1993 called principal Act in this Part 4 Purpose 4A Membership 5 How vacancies created 6 New section 55AA inserted 55AA Dual or multiple citizenship permissible in certain circumstances 7 Definitions 8 Schedule 1 amended Part 2 Amendments to Broadcasting Act 1989 9 Broadcasting Act 1989 called principal Act in this Part 10 Purpose 11 Interpretation 12 New section 69A inserted 69A Limited application of this Part to by-elections 13 Prohibition on paid election programmes 14 New section 70B substituted 70B Time by which notice must be given 15 Contents of notice 16 Persons deemed to be candidates 17 New sections 71 to 73 substituted 71 Opening addresses and closing addresses to be broadcast free 71A Electoral Commission to ascertain time available for opening addresses and closing addresses 72 Electoral Commission to refer statements to political parties 73 Allocation of time to political parties 18 Application and payment of allocation 19 Criteria in relation to allocation of time and money to political parties 20 New sections 75A and 76 substituted 75A Consultation with broadcasters 76 Consultation with political parties 21 Power of Electoral Commission to vary allocations 22 New sections 76C to 77A substituted 76C Procedure in relation to early elections 76D Modifications to application of this Part if section 76C applies 77 Broadcasting of opening addresses and closing addresses 77A Opening addresses and closing addresses 23 Obligation to give identical terms to each political party or candidate 24 New sections 79C and 79D substituted 79C Returns in relation to broadcasting time 79D Returns to be available for public inspection 25 Offences 26 New section 80A inserted 80A Duty to report suspected offences The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: 1 Title This Act is the Electoral Matters Act 2004. 2 Commencement (1) Sections 5 and 6 of this Act come into force on the day after polling day for the next general election. (2) The rest of this Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent. Part 1 Amendments to Electoral Act 1993 3 Electoral Act 1993 called principal Act in this Part In this Part, the Electoral Act 1993 1993 No 87 is called "the principal Act". 4 Purpose The purpose of this Part is to--- (a) amend section 55 of the principal Act, which sets out the circumstances in which the seat of a member of Parliament becomes vacant; and (b) make other amendments to the principal Act. New (unanimous) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4A Membership (1) Section 8(4) of the principal Act is amended by omitting the expression "Part 6", and substituting the words "sections 69 to 80". (2) Section 8 of the principal Act is amended by adding the following subsection: "(5) For the purposes of its jurisdiction under section 80A of the Broadcasting Act 1989, the Electoral Commission consists only of the members who hold office under subsection (1)." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 How vacancies created (1) Section 55(1) of the principal Act is amended by repealing paragraph (b), and substituting the following paragraph: "(b) if he or she takes an oath or makes a declaration or acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a {foreign State or Power} [foreign State, foreign Head of State, or foreign Power], whether required on appointment to an office or otherwise; or". (2) Section 55(1) of the principal Act is amended by inserting, after paragraph (c), the following paragraphs: "(ca) if he or she ceases to be a New Zealand citizen; or Struck out (unanimous) ======================================================================= "(cb) if he or she accepts nomination as, or otherwise agrees to be, a candidate for election as a member of Parliament (or other governing body of a country, however described) in any country other than New Zealand; or". ======================================================================= New (unanimous) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(cb) if he or she accepts nomination as, or otherwise agrees to be, a candidate for election, or agrees to appointment as--- "(i) a member of Parliament (or other governing body) of a country, State, territory, or municipality, in any country other than New Zealand; or "(ii) a member of any governing body of any association of countries, States, territories, or municipalities exercising governing powers, of which New Zealand is not a member (for example, the European Union); or". ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 New section 55AA inserted The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 55, the following section: "55AA Dual or multiple citizenship permissible in certain circumstances Despite section 55(1)(b) and (c), the seat of a member of Parliament does not become vacant by reason only of the member--- "(a) becoming a subject or citizen of any foreign State or Power, or entitled to the rights, privileges, or immunities of a subject or citizen of any foreign State or Power, by reason only of the member's--- "(i) country or place of birth; or "(ii) descent; or "(b) renewing a passport or travel document that was issued to him or her by a foreign State or Power before the member took office." 7 Definitions Section 55E of the principal Act is amended by repealing the definition of the term appropriate person, and substituting the following definition: "appropriate person means the Speaker". 8 Schedule 1 amended Struck out (unanimous) ======================================================================= (1) Clause 2A of Schedule 1 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, after subclause (2), the following subclause: "(2A) A meeting of the Commission may be held for the transaction of business under Part VI of the Broadcasting Act 1989 even if only 1 appointment under section 8(4)(b) has been made." ======================================================================= (2) Clause 2A of Schedule 1 of the principal Act is amended by repealing subclause (4), and substituting the following subclause: "(4) At any meeting of the Commission--- "(a) the quorum necessary for the transaction of business under Part VI of the Broadcasting Act 1989 is 3 members: Struck out (unanimous) ======================================================================= "(b) for the purpose of transacting business under section 80A of the Broadcasting Act 1989, the quorum must consist of only members who hold office under section 8(1): ======================================================================= "(c) for the purpose of transacting {all other} business under {Part VI} [sections 69 to 80] of the Broadcasting Act 1989, the quorum may consist of no more than 1 member appointed under section 8(4)(b)." Part 2 Amendments to Broadcasting Act 1989 9 Broadcasting Act 1989 called principal Act in this Part In this Part, the Broadcasting Act 1989 1989 No 25 is called "the principal Act". 10 Purpose The purpose of this Part is to amend Part VI of the principal Act relating to the broadcasting of parliamentary election programmes. 11 Interpretation (1) Section 69(1) of the principal Act is amended by inserting, in their appropriate alphabetical order, the following definitions: "by-election means a by-election within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Electoral Act 1993 "RNZ means Radio New Zealand Limited "TVNZ means Television New Zealand Limited". (2) Section 69(1) of the principal Act is amended by repealing the definition of election, and substituting the following definition: "election--- "(a) means a general election; and "(b) includes, in sections 70, 79, 79A, 79C, and 80, a by-election". 12 New section 69A inserted The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 69, the following section: "69A Limited application of this Part to by-elections "(1) Sections 70A to 77A do not apply in respect of by-elections. "(2) If there is any inconsistency between subsection (1) and any other provision in this Part, subsection (1) prevails." 13 Prohibition on paid election programmes (1) Section 70(2) of the principal Act is amended by repealing paragraph (a), and substituting the following paragraph: "(a) an opening address or closing address that is broadcast--- "(i) for a political party or group of related political parties; and "(ii) by TVNZ or RNZ during time allocated to that political party or group of related political parties under section 73(1); or". (2) Section 70(2)(c) of the principal Act is amended by repealing subparagraph (ii), and substituting the following subparagraph: "(ii) relating solely to 1 named constituency candidate at an election; and". (3) Section 70 of the principal Act is amended by adding the following subsection: "(4) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c)(ii), the term constituency candidate includes a person who has declared his or her intention of becoming a constituency candidate." 14 New section 70B substituted The principal Act is amended by repealing section 70B, and substituting the following section: "70B Time by which notice must be given Every notice given under section 70A(3) must be given not later than the date specified under section 70A(1)." 15 Contents of notice (1) Section 70C(d) of the principal Act is repealed. (2) Section 70C(f) of the principal Act is amended by repealing subparagraph (ii), and substituting the following subparagraph: "(ii) that the party is intending to apply for registration on the Register of Political Parties in order to be registered at the date of dissolution or expiry of Parliament; and". (3) Section 70C of the principal Act is amended by repealing paragraph (g), and substituting the following paragraph: "(g) whether or not the political party intends to submit a list under section 127 of the Electoral Act 1993 for the general election to be held in that year." 16 Persons deemed to be candidates Section 70D of the principal Act is repealed. 17 New sections 71 to 73 substituted The principal Act is amended by repealing sections 71 to 73, and substituting the following sections: "71 Opening addresses and closing addresses to be broadcast free "(1) TVNZ and RNZ must each provide time, free of charge, for the broadcasting, in an election period, of the opening addresses and closing addresses of political parties. "(2) TVNZ must broadcast opening addresses and closing addresses on 1 free-to-air channel with national coverage. "(3) RNZ must broadcast opening addresses and closing addresses on the service known as National Radio. "(4) Opening addresses and closing addresses must be broadcast in accordance with section 77A, (which sets out when, and at what time, opening addresses and closing addresses are to be broadcast, and certain other provisions relating to the broadcasting of opening addresses and closing addresses). "71A Electoral Commission to ascertain time available for opening addresses and closing addresses "(1) During the term of each Parliament, or as soon as practicable after a Parliament is dissolved or expires, the Electoral Commission must require TVNZ and RNZ to supply a statement of the amount of time that each of them will provide, free of charge, for the broadcasting of the opening addresses and closing addresses of political parties at the next election. "(2) The statement must be supplied to the Electoral Commission within such reasonable time as the Electoral Commission specifies. The Electoral Commission may at any time shorten or extend that deadline, whether before or after it has expired. "(3) A statement provided in accordance with this section--- "(a) may include proposals for the allocation, to political parties, of the time that will be provided for the broadcasting of opening addresses and closing addresses; and "(b) must state any conditions proposed in relation to the scheduling and duration of opening addresses and closing addresses within the time that the broadcaster will provide. "(4) In making proposals under subsection (3)(a), TVNZ or RNZ, as the case requires, must have regard to the provisions of section 75. "72 Electoral Commission to refer statements to political parties "(1) As soon as practicable after receiving statements from TVNZ and RNZ in accordance with section 71A, the Electoral Commission must give a copy of those statements to--- "(a) each political party that has given a notice to the Electoral Commission under section 70A(3); and "(b) the Minister of Justice. "(2) The Electoral Commission must ensure, as far as practicable, that each of the intended recipients receives their copies of the statements on the same day. "73 Allocation of time to political parties "(1) In respect of each election period, the Electoral Commission must allocate to political parties, in such proportions as the Electoral Commission considers appropriate, the time that TVNZ and RNZ have made available for opening addresses and closing addresses in accordance with section 71A. New (unanimous) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(1A) In allocating time to political parties under subsection (1), the Electoral Commission--- "(a) must consider whether any proposals made under section 71A(3)(a) for the allocation of broadcasting time can be adopted either in full or with modifications specified by the Electoral Commission; and "(b) must modify proposals made under section 71A(3)(a) if, in the opinion of the Electoral Commission, the proposals are not consistent with the provisions of section 75. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(2) The Electoral Commission must not allocate any time to an individual political party under this section if that political party has received an allocation of time under this section as part of a group of related political parties. "(3) This section is subject to sections 75, 75A, and 76." 18 Application and payment of allocation (1) Section 74B of the principal Act is amended by repealing subsection (2), and substituting the following subsections: "(2) Every political party to which an amount of money is allocated under section 74A must {submit to} [ensure that] the Electoral Commission [receives], no later than {30} [50] working days after the end of the month in which the election was held,--- "(a) all accounts issued to the political party in respect of the expenditure by that political party of its allocation; and "(b) any information in relation to those accounts that the Electoral Commission requires. "(2A) No account that is {submitted by} [received by the Electoral Commission from] a political party {to the Electoral Commission} after the end of the period specified in subsection (2) may be paid by the Electoral Commission, either in part or in full, from the amount of money allocated to that party under section 74A." New (unanimous) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Section 74B of the principal Act is amended by adding the following subsection: "(5) An amount of money that has been allocated to a political party under section 74A on or after the commencement of the Electoral Matters Act 2004 and that is not paid out under subsection (4) must be repaid by the Electoral Commission to the Crown." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Criteria in relation to allocation of time and money to political parties (1) Section 75 of the principal Act is amended by repealing subsection (1), and substituting the following subsection: "(1) The Electoral Commission must not allocate any time to a political party under section 73, or make an allocation of money to a political party under section 74A, in respect of an election unless--- "(a) that party was registered on the Register of Political Parties at the time of the dissolution of Parliament for the election or, as the case requires, at the time that Parliament expired; and "(b) that party has given to the Electoral Commission, in relation to that election, a notice that complies with the requirements of sections 70A(3), 70B, and 70C." (2) Section 75(2) of the principal Act is amended by repealing paragraph (c), and substituting the following paragraph: "(c) the number of members of Parliament who were members of that political party immediately before the dissolution or expiration of Parliament; and". (3) Section 75 of the principal Act is amended by repealing subsection (3), and substituting the following subsection: "(3) Despite anything in subsection (1) or subsection (2), an allocation of time to a political party made under section 73 in respect of an election period, or a decision made under section 74A in respect of an election period, may be made before the beginning of the election period." 20 New sections 75A and 76 substituted The principal Act is amended by repealing sections 75A and 76, and substituting the following sections: "75A Consultation with broadcasters "(1) The Electoral Commission must not allocate time under section 73 or make an allocation of money under section 74A, or make a determination under section 77A(4)(a), unless--- "(a) the Electoral Commission has--- "(i) consulted with those broadcasters that are likely to be affected by the allocation or determination; and "(ii) provided those broadcasters with the opportunity to give the Electoral Commission their comments on the proposed allocation or determination; and "(b) the Electoral Commission has considered those comments (if any). "(2) If the Electoral Commission adopts in full, under section 73, a proposal made by TVNZ or RNZ under section 71A(3)(a), the Electoral Commission is not required by subsection (1) to consult with that broadcaster. "(3) If, after complying with subsection (1), the Electoral Commission later modifies an allocation or a determination, the Electoral Commission does not have to provide any broadcaster with a further opportunity to comment on the modified allocation or determination. "(4) The failure of any broadcaster to make use of the opportunity to consult with, or to give comments to, the Electoral Commission under subsection (1), or to comply with any other request of the Electoral Commission,--- "(a) does not prevent the Commission making--- "(i) an allocation of time under section 73; or "(ii) an allocation of money under section 74A; or "(iii) a determination under section 77A(4)(a); and "(b) does not affect the validity of any allocation or determination made under any of those sections. "76 Consultation with political parties "(1) The Electoral Commission must comply with subsection (2)--- "(a) before allocating time to a political party under section 73; and "(b) before allocating any money under section 74A; and "(c) before making any determination under section 77A(4)(a). "(2) Before doing any of the things referred to in subsection (1), the Electoral Commission must grant to every political party that has given a notice to the Electoral Commission under section 70A(3) the opportunity to meet with and be heard by the Electoral Commission. "(3) If, after complying with subsection (2), the Electoral Commission later modifies an allocation or a determination, the Electoral Commission does not have to provide any political party with any further opportunity to meet with and be heard by the Electoral Commission. "(4) The failure of any political party to make use of the opportunity to meet with and be heard by the Electoral Commission under subsection (2), or to comply with any other request of the Electoral Commission,--- "(a) does not prevent the Commission making--- "(i) an allocation of time under section 73; or "(ii) an allocation of money under section 74A; or "(iii) a determination under section 77A(4)(a); and "(b) does not affect the validity of any allocation or determination made under any of those sections." 21 Power of Electoral Commission to vary allocations (1) Section 76A(1) of the principal Act is amended by inserting, after paragraph (d), the following paragraph: "(da) the party fails to comply with any conditions imposed by the Electoral Commission under section 74A(2)(b) requiring the political party or group of related political parties to advise the Electoral Commission of the value of election programme bookings made by the political party or group of related parties; or". (2) Section 76A(1)(f) of the principal Act is repealed. (3) Section 76A(4) of the principal Act is amended by repealing paragraph (c), and substituting the following paragraph: "(c) the secretary of a political party has failed to submit a list of candidates for election under section 127 of the Electoral Act 1993." 22 New sections 76C to 77A substituted The principal Act is amended by repealing sections 76C to 77A, and substituting the following sections: "76C Procedure in relation to early elections "(1) This section applies if, at the time Parliament is dissolved or expires, either--- "(a) the Electoral Commission has not specified a date under section 70A(1) in respect of the election period that will apply in relation to the next general election; or "(b) the Electoral Commission has specified such a date, but that date has not yet passed. "(2) If this section applies,--- "(a) this Part applies subject to the modifications specified in section 76D; and "(b) any notice given by the Electoral Commission under section 70A(1) must be disregarded. "76D Modifications to application of this Part if section 76C applies "(1) At the earliest available opportunity, the Electoral Commission must specify, by notice in the Gazette, a date by which any political party that considers it will qualify for an allocation of time under section 73 or of money under section 74A, in respect of the election period that will apply in relation to the general election, must notify the Electoral Commission that it considers itself to be so qualified. "(2) Each political party that considers it will qualify for an allocation of time under section 73 or of money under section 74A must notify the Electoral Commission, by any means that the party considers appropriate, that it considers itself to be so qualified. "(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) and despite section 75(1), a party is eligible for an allocation of time under section 73 or of money under section 74A if--- "(a) that party was registered on the Register of Political Parties at the time of the dissolution of Parliament for the election or, as the case requires, at the time that Parliament expired; and "(b) No later than the date specified under subsection (1), that party gives to the Electoral Commission, in relation to the election, a notice that complies with the requirements of subsection (4). "(4) The requirements referred to in subsection (3)(b) are: "(a) the notice must comply with the requirements of subsection (2): "(b) the notice must comply with the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (e), and (g) of section 70C. "(5) The Electoral Commission may set, for the consultation required under section 75A(1)(a), any time period that is reasonable in the circumstances. "(6) The Electoral Commission may require any political party that wishes to make use of the opportunity to meet with and be heard by the Electoral Commission under section 76(2) to make use of that opportunity within any reasonable period of time that the Electoral Commission specifies. "77 Broadcasting of opening addresses and closing addresses "(1) TVNZ and RNZ must act in accordance with the allocations of time under section 73 applying to them. "(2) Subsection (3) applies if there is a dispute between any of the following concerning the time at which any election programme is to be broadcast free of charge: "(a) any broadcaster and any political party; or "(b) any broadcaster and any other broadcaster; or "(c) any political party and any other political party. "(3) If there is a dispute,--- "(a) the Electoral Commission is to decide the matter in dispute; and "(b) the Electoral Commission's decision is final. "77A Opening addresses and closing addresses "(1) Opening addresses and closing addresses for which time has been allocated to political parties under section 73 must be broadcast between 7.00 pm and {9.30 pm} [9.00 pm]. Struck out (unanimous) ======================================================================= "(2) A closing address may be broadcast only in the last week of the election period. "(3) Advertising programmes must not be broadcast--- "(a) during an opening address or a closing address: "(b) between different opening addresses or different closing addresses. ======================================================================= New (unanimous) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(2) All closing addresses must be broadcast on the same night in the last week of the election period. "(3) An advertising programme must not be broadcast--- "(a) during an opening address: "(b) during a closing address: "(c) between different closing addresses. "(3A) An election programme that is not an opening address or a closing address must not be broadcast--- "(a) during an opening address: "(b) between different opening addresses that are broadcast on the same night: "(c) during a closing address: "(d) between different closing addresses. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "(4) The Electoral Commission must--- "(a) determine each amount to be paid to TVNZ or RNZ on account of the production costs of every opening address and every closing address broadcast under section 71; and "(b) pay that amount to the person who issued the account for the production costs of the opening address or closing address. "(5) Each amount paid under subsection (4)(b) must be paid out of public money appropriated by Parliament (or deemed by section 74(2) to have been appropriated by Parliament) for the purpose specified in section 74(1)." 23 Obligation to give identical terms to each political party or candidate Section 79B(1) of the principal Act is amended by omitting the words ", whether by way of a reply under section 71A of this Act or otherwise,". 24 New sections 79C and 79D substituted The principal Act is amended by repealing section 79C, and substituting the following sections: "79C Returns in relation to broadcasting time "(1) After each election, every broadcaster must give the Electoral Commission a complete and accurate written statement of the election programmes broadcast by that broadcaster during the 3-month period immediately preceding polling day for the election. "(2) The statement must be given to the Electoral Commission no later than 10 working days after the end of the month in which the election was held. "(3) The statement must set out the following information in relation to each election programme: "(a) the candidate or political party for whom the election programme was broadcast: "(b) the length of the election programme and the time at which it was broadcast: "(c) the date on which the election programme was broadcast: "(d) the amount paid for the broadcasting of the election programme, and the rate or rates by which that amount was fixed. "(4) The statement must be signed by or on behalf of the broadcaster. "79D Returns to be available for public inspection The Electoral Commission must, not later than 3 working days after it receives a statement under section 79C, make the statement available for public inspection, without payment, at any time between 9 am and 4 pm, on any day on which the office of the Electoral Commission is open." 25 Offences Section 80(a) of the principal Act is amended by omitting the words "or section 77(2)". 26 New section 80A inserted The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 80, the following section: "80A Duty to report suspected offences Where the Electoral Commission believes that any person has committed an offence against section 80, the Electoral Commission must report to the police the facts upon which that belief is based." Legislative history 22 June 2004 Introduction (Bill 157-1) 29 June 2004 First reading and referral to the Justice and Electoral Committee