Referendum it is(n't?): National isn't listening.

Labour Leader Phil Goff is reported calling for a referendum on the proposals for reform of Auckland local government. His media release on the subject is here.

The National-ACT government now faces a simple choice: will it let Aucklanders have their say, or not?

If the answer is no, then National isn't listening. 

I had some sympathy with the Royal Commission drafting simple legislation that didn't include the consultation processes that are already in the law, because it had consulted on what it was proposing.

National tore up the Commission's report. It is proposing a new model that has had no consultation at all. Aucklanders deserve real input into that, and if the model stands as proposed by the Government, then we need the chance to vote it down.

National-ACT are already sending signals that they don't want a referendum. What are they scared of? The people making a decision?

Pretty strange thing for listening politicians to do, isn't it. Oh, wait - they aren't listening after all...

Comments

[Principessa]

I heard that at the West Auckland March, the protestors tried to pass on their letters to John Key about their concerns to Paula Bennett's secretaries who were stood outside their electorate office, pretending to do the gardening, and they said "No, because the whole thing is a Labour Party jack up." Paula Bennett wouldn't even face up to her own constituents.

[Nick]

The Royal Commissions report was not "torn up" as you put it. A large proportion of the recommendations remain. Getting rid of useless local councils was a good idea. And the Government reduced the 10 "at large" councillors to 8. I guess you would have liked it to remain at 10 though as it seems you're such a fan of the report.

[burt]

Jordan

You may also recall that the recommendation when we adopted MMP was to drop the Maori seats, which we retained. It's a recommendation Jordan.

However a referendum will sort it out, either that or we could do a race survey of the Auckland population and apportion race based seats accordingly.

The theme of 'The [party in govt] is not listening to the opposition on the issue of [xyz] referendum' is not new Jordan, but it is good to see you supporting the oppositions position because I think the number of referendums in the last nine years was appallingly low.

[libertyscott]

Was there a referendum when Labour, the Alliance and the Greens fundamentally changed the nature of local government in New Zealand in 2002 by moving from a prescriptive basis for local government powers to giving local government unlimited powers to enter into whatever activity it wished?

Was there a referendum when the last government merged Christchurch City with Banks Peninsula District?

No.

I loathe the mega city proposal, but it would be nice if those calling for a referendum on what is a single amalgamation proposal supported referendums for any fundamental change in local government. I don't see the slightest sign of that though.

Oh and if Labour had been re-elected, do you honestly think there would be a referendum on this? Don't make me laugh.