Euthanasia, dope votes on horizon

Public referenda on controversial law changes before 2020 looking possible

The earliest a referendum could take place would be late 2019, because it would need to be preceded by a public information campaign.

Holding the referendum outside the election period could open up the Government to criticism over the cost.

Labour was critical of the $22 million cost of the National-led Government’s public referendum on changing New Zealand’s flag in 2015-16, though that included the costs of the design process, expert panel, and nationwide roadshows.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw said it made more sense to hold a referendum at the same time as an election. “Just on the basis of cost and convenience — people are going to be going to the polling booths anyway.

“And the mail is a declining way of staying in touch in this country so I don’t know what the turnout of a postal referendum would be.”

Shaw did not share Little’s concern that a referendum could detract from a general election.

“I think people would treat it as a distinct issue,” he said.

NZ First leader Winston Peters said yesterday that he wanted the cannabis referendum to be binding on the Government.

But Little said neither of the referenda were likely to be binding: “We don’t typically do binding referenda in this country.”

Labour has previously said it did not want a euthanasia debate in election year.

Former Labour leader David Shearer went as far as to make former Labour MP Maryan Street remove her pro-euthanasia bill from the private member’s ballot in 2013 in case it was pulled in election year.