June 1 2020 INL Digital Edition

04
JUNE 1, 2020
Homelink
Electoral reforms must ban foreign funding
Jami-Lee Ross
We are happy to announce
the first policy on Democracy
of the Advance NZ
Party.
The Party’s membership continues
to grow.
Our democracy is precious and must
be protected for future generations.
That is why Advance NZ’s Democracy
Policy proposes implement significant
electoral reforms to protect our
democracy, reduce our foreign security
risks, and provide greater transparency
around electoral funding.
We will increase citizen participation
in democratic outcomes, and
give the people back the right to veto
law changes where Parliament gets it
wrong.
As the large political parties have
become more reliant on fundraising
from foreign sources, our democracy
has been eroded.
The Proposals
The proposals of our Democracy
Policy include (a) Electoral Reform
to restrict candidacy for Parliament
to candidates with a minimum of 10
years citizenship (b) Hold a new Referendum
on the MMP electoral system
at the 2023 Election (c) Remove the
foreign funding loophole by banning
all corporate donations, and only allow
for donations from people who are
eligible to vote (d) Greater funding
transparency with all donations over
$500 disclosed (e) Reform the Citizens
Initiated Referendum Act to make it
easier to initiate referendums and
make CIR binding with the support of
two-thirds of voters (f) Implement Veto
Referendums where voters can initiate
a referendum to veto a law when
Parliament gets it wrong (g) Lower the
CIR threshold to initiate a referendum
to 5% of eligible voters (h) Require
the PM to certify that all ministerial
appointments pose no risk to New
Zealand’s security; and (i) Establish
a Royal Commission to recommend
an entrenched written constitution,
subject to voter approval.
Citizenship scrutiny
I have seen first hand the corrosive
effect foreign influence can have
within our democracy.
The Party that I was once involved
in put a former spy trainer for a
foreign military intelligence agency on
the fast track to Parliament.
It was discovered several years later
that the MP did not disclose their links
to foreign military intelligence when
becoming a New Zealand citizen.
It was all quickly swept under the
carpet because of that person’s ability
to raise large amounts of money for
the political party.
Advance NZ’s Democracy Policy
would not allow that situation to
happen ever again.
Appeal to quicken payments to small businesses
Staff Reporter
Government Ministers have
asked large private enterprises
to adopt prompt payment
practices in line with the state
sector, as a way to improve cashflow
for small businesses.
Ministers of Finance, Small Business,
Commerce and Consumer Affairs have
written to more than 40 significant
enterprises and banking industry
representatives to request they join
efforts to support small and medium
enterprises (SMEs).
Ten-day cycle
The letter from Ministers has been
Ministers Stuart Nash (Small Business)
Grant Robertson (Finance) and Kris Faafoi
(Commerce & Consumer Affairs)
sent to a cross-section of significant
New Zealand enterprises, most of
which are among the top 50 NZX
Companies.
“We want 95% of invoices paid
within 10 working days. Once the
impact of Covid-19 arrived on our
shores in March 2020, we directed all
government agencies to bring forward
the prompt payment target with
immediate effect,” Finance Minister
Grant Robertson said.
Described improved payment
terms as a priority, he said that paying
suppliers faster is an important way
to unlock cashflow and productivity
benefits.
“This will support ongoing business
sustainability and growth. Large
employers are already doing a lot
to support their people and smaller
businesses through the impacts of
Covid-19. I know many are trying
to improve their payment terms.
Together with government, these
Cleansing fundraisers
We will clean up the political
fundraising laws that provide foreign
entities a wide open door to funnel
tainted money into our electoral
system.
Constitutional reform is also needed
to take some of the power out of the
hands of politicians, and genuinely
give it back in the people.
Advance NZ’s membership has
grown fast since the first call for
membership less than two weeks ago.
Within the first week of opening our
online membership website at www.
advancenz.org.nz we had over 150
people joining.
Building membership
We will spend the next five weeks
building membership to be able to
register as a political party. We will also
continue recruiting candidates and
finalising policies ahead of the election.
Advance NZ has an advantage over
other minor parties attempting to
establish.
businesses can help protect jobs,” Mr
Robertson said.
Critical for recovery
Small Business Minister Stuart
Nash said that cashflow is central to
recovery of our SMEs.
“The government has already
stepped up to take a lead by requiring
core departments to pay promptly.
Late payments impede recovery and
force business owners to resort to
personal savings. Prompt payment
terms are another plank in our plan
that responds to the immediate impact
of Covid-19. Our government support
package is also getting cash out the
door to SMEs through interest-free
loans, a $3 billion tax refund package,
Advance NZ is a new Party with
the most realistic chance of gaining
election this year.
No political party under MMP has
been successful in gaining election
without being led by a current or
former electorate MP.
“The 5% threshold is usually too
high of a bar for new parties to cross.
As an incumbent electorate MP
with a strong base in Botany, voters
can have confidence that a vote for
Advance NZ is not a wasted vote.
I applaud the enthusiasm of parties
like TOP, New Conservatives and Sustainable
NZ, but the reality is they are
walking a well-worn path to electoral
failure.
Voters unhappy with the current
offering of parties have in Advance NZ
a party that stands a higher chance of
succeeding.
Jami-Lee Ross is elected member
of Parliament from Botany, East
Auckland. He recently established
‘Advance NZ,’ a new political party.
The full Advance NZ Democracy
Policy can be found here.
and Wage Subsidy,” he said.
Support packages
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Minister Kris Faafoi said that the
request for action on late payment
practices accompanies other initiatives
to help businesses respond and
recover to the impacts of Covid-19.
“We have had to move fast. Support
takes many forms and a significant
package of relief for those with liquidity
problems has already been outlined
through changes to the Companies Act
around debt hibernation and ‘safe harbour’
arrangements for directors who
want to keep trading. All New Zealand
businesses must be given a chance to
share the economic recovery,” he said.
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