Originally published as a column in The Southland Times

There has been some very concerning behaviour from the Labour Government recently, calling into question its ability to govern democratically.

I spoke out in Parliament last week about the Government’s Bill to give effect to the Traffic Light Framework, which was forced through with no select committee scrutiny or public submissions.

The Human Rights Commissioner and even the Speaker, Trevor Mallard, came out against the process for this Bill. It was contemptuous of Parliament and contemptuous of the NZ people.

In November the Auditor-General agreed with National, that the Government’s Budget documentation fell well short of the basic requirements for public transparency.

The Government has allocated huge amounts of taxpayer money, but on numerous occasions has failed to identify what actual initiatives the money has been used for.

Transparency around public spending is fundamental and this sets a worrying precedent.

At the same time the Government is taking a wrecking ball to district health boards, introducing a bill that will dissolve our health system.

Labour did not campaign on the removal of all DHBs and yet it proceeds to push them through.

The Three Waters asset grab is yet another example of the Government’s arrogance.

It will soon force through legislation to create four new water entities which will take control of our local water services and assets.

Despite huge opposition – the public’s views have again been ignored while the Government forces its decisions on taxpayers.

This is not democracy. This is not New Zealand - and I say it’s wrong.