> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://goodoil.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# ACT Party Making a Splash
- URL: https://goodoil.news/act-party-making-a-splash/
- Published: 2019-06-18T20:30:49.000Z
- Updated: 2019-07-08T06:45:23.000Z
- Author: Juana Atkins
- Tags: NZ, NZ Politics, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 04:14

David Seymour and the ACT party are currently grabbing the headlines with a new look, new policies and a meaty issue that resonates with the public: **freedom of speech.** This one issue has the potential to get the party over the 5% hurdle, because there is a significant bloc of voters out there, of whom I am one, who are looking for a free speech champion.

On *Noted* Graham Adams asks if a defence of free speech can boost David Seymour’s fortunes.

> \[…\] The issue of free speech will also likely keep him in the public gaze for some time given he has staked out a position as the principal antagonist to Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and Justice minister Andrew Little as they \[…\] push for an expansion of our hate-speech laws.  
>  
> \[…\] It’s a no-brainer for Seymour to stand up for free speech. Act has always been a party dedicated to keeping the long arm of the state out of our lives (and pockets) in a way that National often only pretends to be.   
>  
> \[…\] by defending free speech, Seymour is not only distinguishing his party from parties on the left. He’s also distancing Act from National.   
>  
>  
> \[…\] National is completely hobbled on the issue of free speech. It can’t convincingly do much more than make well-meaning noises on the topic after having proposed and passed the Harmful Digital Communications Act in 2015 — with the unanimous (albeit reluctant) support of the Labour Party.

A headline in a newspaper describes ACT as the **“anti-woke party”.**  
*Stuff’s* headline asked if headlines can be turned into votes. Zane Small on Newshub said that Simon Bridges had labelled David Seymour’s free speech proposals as **“alluring”**.

Over on *The Daily Blog* Martyn Bradbury described the defence of freedom of speech by ACT as their using “**the Jordan Peterson effect”** in order to become politically relevant again.

I think that this one juicy issue has the potential to do for David Seymour what the Orewa speech did for Don Brash. It is a topic that inspires a strong reaction, and it is one that could carry the party over the 5% threshold at next year’s election.

David Seymour has to keep it coming and not flinch when the media tries to smear ACT. There is no such thing as bad publicity; just ask President Trump. The media by hating on him gave him millions of dollars worth of free coverage. Seymour would do well to take a leaf out of Trump’s playbook and keep the headlines coming.