News Jaya

Baldock's petition question has been acknowledged

Larry Baldock's petition question has been formally acknowledged. It is:

Should Citizens Initiated Referenda seeking to repeal or amend a law be binding?

Binding on WHOM? On this wording the Government can ignore it on the grounds that the question does not specify who or what is to be bound.

OK, lets take a wild guess and say binding refers to the Government. But even if referenda are binding, isn't it worth stating what you want the Government to do - like state in the question how referenda should direct the government to change the frigging law?

Like, the question should address HOW the government should respond.

The Clerk of the House is now inviting comment on this wording.Send three hard copies to:
The Clerk of the House of Representatives
Parliament House
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

The deadline for comments on the wording of the question is 5pm on Friday, 16 October 2009.