CHANGING DEMOCRACY

  BC and the politics of Middle Earth   

THE ROYAL COMMISSION

In the early 1980's electoral reform wasn't a burning issue in the minds of most New Zealanders. But, for one man in particular, the results of two general elections were convincing proof something must be done.

Sir Geoffrey Palmer was a Labour party member of parliament and a constitutional lawyer. In 1978 his party won 10,000 more votes than National, but won 11 fewer seats. Again in 1981 Labour won more votes, but National won more seats and formed the government. BC has had similar election results.

In 1984, when Labour eventually formed government Palmer became Justice Minister and Attorney General.  As his colleague Roger Douglas began dramatic re-structuring of New Zealand's economy, Sir Geoffrey Palmer became the catalyst to restructure the political system by appointing a a Royal Commission to study electoral reform

Critics, particularly in the business community. suggested the Royal Commission was biased towards MMP.  However, the commissioners made two unanimous recommendations in their report "Towards a Better Democracy." Ditch FPTP and establish a proportional representation system similar to the German model. 

By the time the Royal Commission released its report, New Zealand's economic transformation was becoming extremely controversial. MMP was seen as a tool to re-assert populist parliamentary control over governments. By 1990 promises to hold a referendum on electoral reform were part of the platforms of every major party, despite opposition from many parliamentarians and business groups. Roger Kerr is with the New Zealand Business Round Table.