Waka-jumping focus in Greens race
The Greens’ support for the wakajumping bill looks set to become a key focus of the female co-leadership race.
Julie Anne Genter, who revealed her candidacy for the co-leadership yesterday, admitted some discontent among members over the party’s backing of the bill and called for a “big debate” over ongoing support.
She says the caucus needs to improve the way it communicates with and listens to party members on all issues: “Under my leadership, I’m absolutely determined that we will do a better job in the future.”
Nominations close today and as of last night, she and Marama Davidson were the only ones to put their hands up, though Eugenie Sage was understood to be considering it.
The Greens have traditionally opposed waka-jumping legislation, voting against other versions of the bill in 2001 and 2005.
The current bill, now before a select committee, would preserve parliamentary proportion as determined by the voters and would mean an MP had to leave Parliament if he or she left a party or was expelled.
The bill is part of the Labour-NZ First coalition agreement, but with National opposing it, it won’t pass into law without Green support.
Genter said there had been concerns among the membership about the party’s support for the bill at the first reading.
“I don’t think we’ve done as good a job as we could at communicating why we’re doing what we’re doing, or demonstrating that we are listening to the membership.
“Around our deliberations and position on the waka-jumping bill, I think we could have done a much better job at engaging with members who were raising concerns.”
She had been happy to vote for the bill at first reading, but the Greens needed to have a “big debate about what we do at second reading”, she said.
Former Green MP Sue Bradford, no longer a party mem- ber, applauded Genter’s courage for publicly speaking out on the bill, which Bradford strongly opposed. “There are quite senior people in the party who are really unhappy about the party’s total reversal on its position,” Bradford said. “She’s really making a case to differentiate from the Government, that the Greens don’t have to be a lapdog or a doormat.” Davidson has also made a point of carving out an independent voice, but used the TPP as an example — a less controversial choice as the caucus and party membership are more unified on the issue. A full list of candidates will be announced on Monday. Delegates will vote late next month before the coleader is announced on April 8.