Turei takes privacy issue to panel considering referendums Bill

WELLINGTON: Former Green Party leader Metiria Turei made a public foray into national politics again yesterday by making a submission to a select committee about privacy.

Ms Turei, who lives in Waitati, is chairwoman of the Make it Legal Trust, in support of legalising the use of recreational cannabis, which will be put to a referendum next election.

She objects to the need for an office holder of such an organisation to put their home address on the bottom of promoter material, if the organisation does not have a premises.

She told the justice committee it should be sufficient for the registered promoter to supply his or her address to the Electoral Commission, and it could then be available publicly.

One of her trust’s campaigners had had ‘‘a random’’ turn up to her house and had been quite startled by it.

Ms Turei said having that extra step in the process would make people feel safer.

‘‘It would stop local randoms from coming to people’s houses and harassing them.’’

Ms Turei, who will be the registered promoter for the Make it Legal group, said it was important for individuals and organisations to ‘‘feel safe in their participation in the democratic process’’.

The justice committee is considering the Referendums Framework Bill, which sets out the rules on referendums to be held at the next election, including on advertising.

The Government is proposing that the decision to hold a cannabis referendum and the question itself will be decided by an orderincouncil, on the recommendation of the Justice Minister, rather than the usual method, which is that the referendum details are passed in law by Parliament.

The Government will publish a draft recreational cannabis law setting but it will not have been through Parliament (medicinal cannabis has already been approved under law).

The End of Life Choice Bill before the House at present will possibly be the subject of a referendum as well.

New Zealand First has lodged an amendment requiring that it not come into force unless a majority of voters support it.

Ms Turei resigned as Greens coleader not long before the 2017 election after admitting benefit fraud as a solo parent in the early 1990s.

Then, amid internal turmoil in the Greens, she said she would not return to Parliament at all.

She was a lawyer before entering politics in 2002. — The New Zealand Herald