Coalition For Open Government, New Zealand

And we’ve got a lot to say about it. Primarily, what on Earth were you thinking? The bill does nothing about anonymous donations to political parties, and nothing about secret trusts – and this was one area on which National and Labour actually agreed!

They quibbled over the level – Helen Clark once said everything over $250 should be declared (leaks suggested they were looking at $5000), while National thought the current $10,000 limit was right (but that the loop-holes that allowed it to be avoided should be abolished).

But it’s missing in action.

And that’s not the only thing missing from the bill, or the only thing in the bill worthy of comment, and over the coming days we hope to posting a lot of our thoughts about a whole bunch of aspects of the proposed regime – the good (there is some, and in places you might not expect) and the bad (some of which is already being eviscerated elsewhere in the blogosphere).

Some of it will explain exactly what the law would mean, some what it should say, and some will look at the policy behind it all. Some will be technical (I’m a lawyer, after all) but might lead to interesting non-technical conclusions, and some may even be whimsical. But we’re starting to have our say. And you should too – the bill will probably get it’s first reading next week (Standing Orders prevent it happening before Tuesday) and will then go to select committee – the bill affects you, and our democracy – so make your voice heard.

Graeme Edgeler
Coalition for Open Government