New petition for a Citizens Initiated Referendum reaches Dunedin

Remember the anti-smacking referendum? Remember the governments response? Larry Baldock a former MP, organiser of the anti-smacking referendum and now the leader of Kiwi Party will be in town for a public meeting to promote the Campaign for Democracy.

The aim is to launch another Citizens Initiated Referendum on whether referendums should be binding on the Government.

The question to be asked on the petition form is: “Should Parliament be required to pass legislation that implements the majority result of a citizens initiated referendum where that result supports a law change?”.

The exact wording of the question came as a result of many submissions to the clerk of the house including from the legislative advisory committee to try and avoid the criticisms surrounding the anti-smacking referendum wording. When asked what the public's response to this will be Mr Baldock said “The first reaction of some to this news may be, oh no. Not another one. I want to say that I completely understand that reaction. I felt the same way when the idea first popped into my head. However, because of the Prime Minister’s refusal to change the new law I really think we have no choice. We must continue the campaign to get the anti-smacking law changed, but now also to change the way our democracy functions so that this sort of travesty never happens again.”

The public meeting will be held at the Leith Valley Bowling Club on Monday the 8th February at 7:30pm. Additional information is available on the website www.4democracy.co.nz.