Simon Power

Wellington, Nov 28 NZPA - The previous government's expert panel on electoral administration has been closed down by the new Justice Minister Simon Power.

The panel was set up two months ago as part of the agreement between Labour and the Greens over the passage of the Electoral Finance Act.

The panel was to have reviewed the administration of the electoral system under the Electoral Finance Act and whether or not political parties should be state funded.

The terms of reference included convening a Citizens' Forum of 70 people to consider the findings of the panel, Mr Power said. The cost of the panel and the forums had been budgeted at $4.57 million.

The EFA had been passed without broad based support across Parliament and the panel set up without consultation, he said.

"So we are disbanding the panel and will start this whole process afresh.

"The next phase in the Government's plan is to repeal the EFA as an interim measure, as promised during the election campaign."

National wanted to return to the "spirit of bipartisanship" on electoral reform, which had been the norm until recently, he said.

"The Government has been sufficiently encouraged by statements made by the Leader of the Opposition since the election which suggest there is now a willingness to participate in a constructive approach toward the reform of electoral administration," Mr Power said.

"Following the repeal of the EFA, we will start work on a new law that will seek as broad a range of parliamentary and public support as possible, to provide an enduring framework for the administration of elections."

The three members appointed to the panel were Associate Professor Andrew Geddis of Otago University, Dr Jean Drage of Canterbury University/Victoria University, and Professor Stephen Levine of Victoria University.

Mr Power said he had written to the panellists advising them of the decision to disestablish the committee and thanking them for their willingness to contribute their expertise.

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