ACT Party Opposes Changes to Four-Year Term Proposal

A select committee has recommended advancing a proposal for a four-year parliamentary term in New Zealand, but it has excluded certain conditions put forth by the ACT Party. The proposal, championed by ACT leader David Seymour, suggested implementing four-year terms only when the government allowed the opposition to control select committees. If not, the current three-year term would remain in place.

The ACT Party managed to secure an agreement from the National Party to advance this legislation to its first reading within a 15-month timeframe. However, the consensus appears to have ended there. Paul Goldsmith, the Justice Minister, confirmed in January 2023 that National had not yet made a decision on whether it would continue to support the legislation going forward.

Local Government New Zealand has expressed concerns that Seymour’s proposal could lead to a misalignment between central and local government elections. The select committee, in its majority report, echoed these concerns, noting that uncertainty regarding the term lengths could destabilize the electoral process.

“Concerns included that it would cause instability, uncertainty and confusion for voters, who would not know how long they were electing their representatives for,” the report stated. It also mentioned practical challenges, such as the potential for parliamentary and local government elections to coincide, creating additional complications.

Committee’s Recommendation

The committee proposed a shift to a strict four-year term between elections, should voters approve this approach in a referendum. “We propose a fundamental amendment of the bill,” the report outlined. It emphasized that the original provisions creating a variable term of Parliament were not supported. Instead, the committee suggested amending the bill to establish a maximum four-year term, contingent on a referendum, while removing the provisions related to select committees.

If the public supports the referendum, the proposed changes would take effect from October 30, 2031. The government has signaled its agreement in principle for the referendum to occur alongside the next General Election in 2026, contingent upon the bill’s enactment. The exact timing will be confirmed as the bill progresses.

The ACT Party has voiced its opposition to the committee’s recommendations, asserting that a transition to a four-year term should include “stronger checks and balances” to uphold democratic accountability. ACT is the only party to dissent from the proposed changes.

“ACT believes in limited government, strong parliamentary oversight, and meaningful accountability,” the party’s minority view stated. “A four-year term without stronger opposition powers at select committees tips the balance too far in favour of the government of the day.”

Unanimous Report on Referendum Framework

In conjunction with the four-year term proposal, the Justice Committee also released a separate report with unanimous support for legislation that would establish a framework for conducting government-initiated referendums. This framework could be utilized for the four-year term referendum.

“This bill is a generic bill that focuses on the mechanics of a referendum and is not specific to a referendum on the term of Parliament,” the report clarified. If enacted, the framework could facilitate future referendums for various legislative matters. However, it is important to note that the proposed framework and its supporting laws would expire on October 31, 2031.

As discussions around the four-year term proposal continue, the interplay between the ACT Party, the National Party, and local government interests will likely shape the future of New Zealand’s electoral landscape.