KEY POINTS:
After previously agreeing to participate in talks about MPs' election spending, National is now ruling that out.
Yesterday, National Party deputy leader Bill English said it wouldn't participate in a "backroom deal" on the electoral financing reforms.
He was referring to talks to be organised by the Electoral
Commission to ensure there was no confusion over what MPs were allowed to spend in an election year.
They would not be held until after the Electoral Finance Bill - which National is opposed to - was passed.
At a meeting last month National had supported the idea of a meeting, Electoral Commission chief executive Helena Catt told NZPA today.
She would not comment on what Mr English had said, but said talks with all 14 registered parties would go ahead, with or without National.
Last month's meeting - between the different electoral agents and party secretaries - discussed the bill, timetables, and planning.
"The party secretaries said it would be really good if we all got together so we could all discuss it (the new law) and see how we all understand it."
The commission agreed and said it would organise a meeting it once the bill was passed.
All party secretaries - not just those representing parties in Parliament - would be invited.
National Party general manager Chris Simpson had supported the idea, she said.
Mr Simpson has since stood down and campaign manager Jo De Joux was appointed interim general manager.
Last week Justice Minister Annette King said the Electoral Finance Bill would be changed to meet the commission's concerns mainly over interpretation of the words "in his or her capacity as a Member of Parliament" and "inducement to vote".
Mr English said getting together to get a shared view on interpretation would be a backroom deal and would not be legally enforceable.
Dr Catt said the main purpose of the meeting would be to talk to parties about guidance the commission would be offering on how to meet the new rules.
She said it always emphasised its guidance was not a statement of law and people should also read the legislation.
"We have to enforce this they have to abide by it it helps if we think the same thing. That doesn't mean that the party secretaries are going to take a vote and tell us what the law means."
National have criticised the bill saying the extended period election spending was regulated, spending limits would curtail free speech and that flaws would see people unintentionally break the law.
Mr English said Ms King's interpretation of rules around MP spending remained vague.
The Electoral Finance Bill is expected to dominate Parliament's programme in the run up to Christmas with fierce opposition from National in a bid to delay its progress, with others - including the Greens - seeking significant amendments.
- NZPA
