In the House during the third and final reading of the draconian EFB, John devotes his time on the Floor to a passionate denunciation of the Bill.

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From the halls of Parliament, National Party leader John Key wishes viewers a Merry Christmas and speaks about what's coming in the New Year as New Zealand moves toward the next General Election.

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Outspoken criticism of the Electoral Finance Bill by former Labour Prime Minister Mike Moore shows Labour needs to dump it, says National Party Leader John Key.

"He is so concerned about it that he says the restrictions it brings are without precedent in the free world.

"For him to say it is 'fatally flawed', 'wrong in principle and substance', and will do 'the opposite of what its authors expected', is a stunning indictment on what Labour is doing.

"To shut down the public's right to criticise anything a Government does for one whole year in every three is simply draconian.

"The public believes it, the Law Society believes it, the Human Rights Commission believes it, and now one of Labour's own former Prime Ministers believes it – but Helen Clark doesn't.

"The arrogance is breathtaking.

"When one of your own puts his neck on the block in this way, well surely the bill's supporters should be re-thinking their stand.

"That is not something former Prime Ministers do lightly.

"You also know something is very wrong when Tim Shadbolt, who was jailed twice in the 1970s because of protest action, is prepared to cop the same punishment again to protect his right to protest at Government action 30 years later.

"His plan to spend $300,000 on a campaign against Labour's move to cut $6.2 million from Southern Institute of Technology will be illegal under this bill unless he registers with the Government and jumps all the bureaucratic hurdles – because Labour will let him spend only $120,000.

"But all he's doing is standing up for his community.

"Isn't that the very sort of democratic action we should be protecting in this country?
"Good on him and shame on Helen Clark and Labour.

"The small parties supporting this bill have only a few days to come to their senses. If they believe in democracy and free speech in election year, they must vote against this bill."

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National's opposition to the Electoral Finance Bill is being vindicated by today's nationwide newspaper ads from Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and others opposing tertiary funding cuts, says National Party Leader John Key.

"The Invercargill leaders confronting the Labour Government over funding cuts at the Southern Institute of Technology will have their nationwide campaign shut down from January 1 – election year - unless they register with the Government and jump all the bureaucratic hurdles.

"This is disgraceful and exactly the reason why National has consistently opposed the draconian and self-serving Electoral Finance Bill that Labour desperately wants passed by Christmas.

"Labour wants to shut down dissenting opinion in election year for the sole purpose of giving Helen Clark and Labour a fourth term in office.

"The amount spent by Southland in newspapers nationwide today could mean that they have already got close to their 3rd party cap of $120,000.

"What that means is Southland may be barred from pushing its concerns beyond one day's worth of nationwide newspaper ads in election year.

"And, if Mayor Shadbolt wants to ignore the law and carry on trying to speak out anyway, he or his agent faces going to jail under the sickening and disgraceful assault on democracy that is the Electoral Finance Bill.

"The law is confusing, unworkable, and an unjustified attack on basic rights that New Zealanders currently take for granted.

"National is working as hard as it can in Parliament to delay the bill's passage, and we will be back in the House next week fighting against it.

"I call on the small parties supporting this bill to come their senses. If they believe in democracy and free speech in election year, they must vote against the bill.

"I repeat that National will repeal this outrageous law should it become government."

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MORE FROM THE HEARTLAND
This afternoon, I'm back on the road in the Heartland Tour ute, heading up the Kapiti Coast and stopping off in towns along the way.

I've had a great few weeks. It's been really humbling to receive so much support and good wishes from people I've never met.

Last weekend, we made our way from Te Awamutu to Rotorua via Taupo, where, first thing on Saturday morning, I convinced 300 people to go and jump in the lake - by blowing the starter's horn for the Taupo Half Ironman.

This week I headed to the top of the South Island and met locals in Blenheim, Picton, and Havelock, got mobbed in Nelson, and had afternoon tea in Motueka.

I'm planning to spend this coming Monday in Northland, on the last leg of the tour for the year. There are so many places we haven't had the chance to get to on this trip, but I'll be on the road again in 2008, hoping to meet as many people as I can.

ON AIR

Listen here  to my interview with Wallace Chapman on Kiwi FM. We talk about the Heartland Tour, the Electoral Finance Bill, and TransTasman newsletter's annual report card on the performance of MPs.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

This is the last edition of Key Notes for 2007. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all your comments on the website.

It's been a busy and successful year for the National Party, and after a short summer break our team will be back on deck and focused on the challenges that election year will bring.

We have a lot of work to do. We'll be building on National's vision for a reinvigorated New Zealand, and rolling out our policies so Kiwis can see exactly where we stand.

Until then, on behalf of my colleagues in Parliament and the National Party, I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.



John Key MP Leader of the National Party Tweet