Labour trade and export growth spokesman David Clark told the Otago Daily Times he suspected National had done polling and had found rising opposition to the trade deal, which was signed in Auckland.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a free-trade agreement that will liberalise trade and investment between 12 Pacific rim countries: New Zealand, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
"The more the public knows about the deal, the less they like it. National is looking for political expediency and that's the reason they are doing away with democracy.''
From the start, the Government had rushed the process, he said.
Submitters were asked to read the 6000-page document in a matter of weeks before getting their submissions in to the select committee.
Submitters raising serious issues were given 15 minutes, sometimes only 10 minutes, to make their case.
"They want to be seen to be listening to people but they are not addressing the issues.''
Dr Clark believed the Government had underestimated the amount of time it would need to get the TPP legislation through Parliament.
The Government needed a six-month "clear run'' and had stated it needed to get the Bill into the House by May 5, before the Budget later that month.
The Government was "reluctant'' to have any debate on the Bill and wanted to have it introduced before the Budget to ensure it was not criticised through that process, he said.
"That, to me, indicates they want to clear the decks before the election. The public are unhappy with the secrecy of the process.''
Labour continued to support free trade but it could not support a deal that undermined sovereignty and committed New Zealand to retain economic distortions in the housing market indefinitely.
Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and others sought, and received, rights in the TPP that New Zealand did not even seek, Dr Clark said.
The Government could run the Bill right up until Christmas, under urgency, ensuring it was lost in the end-of-the-year wrap-ups.
It might be worried about the Maori Party votes and possibly the vote of United Future leader Peter Dunne.
However, it would be more worried about those three votes in an election year, Dr Clark said.
Green Party trade spokesman Kennedy Graham said cutting the timeframe the select committee had to consider public submissions on the TPP from four weeks to five days showed the Government never intended to take the opinions of people seriously.
"The so-called consultation over the TPP is a farce. Slashing the time available to consider submissions is a kick in the teeth to the hundreds of very capable people who have spent a lot of time preparing over 3000 insightful submissions on the TPP.''
No matter how National tried to get the TPP "done and dusted quickly'', Dr Graham said he would be surprised if people opposed to the deal suddenly forgot about it in election year.
A spokeswoman for Trade Minister Todd McClay said the timing was determined solely by the foreign affairs, defence, and trade committee.
"The Trade Minister would point out that TPP has been before this committee for significantly longer than any other treaty examination, and every submitter who has asked to be heard, will be heard. He is looking forward to committee reporting back so legislation can be introduced and the scrutiny can continue through the parliamentary process, which is expected to take all year.''
