StrypeyFeb 26, 2024

"As one famous Australian constitutional lawyer said, and it remains the case even under MMP... NZ is an Executive paradise. The sovereignty of Parliament in NZ - which means Parliament can pass any law it likes - is actually the sovereignty of the Executive, not of the Parliament. And that is why so many Opposition MPs have such a frustrating life, because they have very little influence over anything."

Sir #GeoffreyPalmer, 2017

https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201839427/the-reformer-geoffrey-palmer

#podcasts #RNZ #The9thFloor #NZPolitics

The Reformer - Geoffrey Palmer: Prime Minister 1989-90

In The 9th Floor, a landmark new series for RNZ, Guyon Espiner talks to five former NZ Prime Ministers, starting with reforming lawmaker Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who became our 33rd PM in 1989.

RNZ
Show threadThomas BeagleFeb 26, 2024

@strypey This is partly because our Parliament, and its MPs, voluntarily give up that power.

A few back-benchers refusing to obey the party whip on occasion would help reset things.

Show threadStrypeyFeb 28, 2024

@thomasbeagle
> A few back-benchers refusing to obey the party whip on occasion would help reset things

What incentive do they have to do that? If they don't tow the party line, list MPs can be punished by being moved down or off the list, and electorate MPs by losing the party's endorsement (eg Gaurav Sharma). The power parties now have over who gets to be an MP is one of the few major downsides of MMP, and why I now think STV is better.

Show threadThomas Beagle
@strypey Yes, I agree that we have strengthened political parties too far.
Feb 28, 2024 at 3:59amWeb