There was no political consensus for the election expenses regime introduced in the 1997 Electoral Act. If there had been consensus, then the detailed legislative requirements and other provisions to ensure compliance might not have been necessary. The present regime is too technical and bureaucratic. A good example of this was the need for the commission to issue a 58 page book of guidelines at the 2002 general election. Then we found out the day before the election that the guidelines were wrong, according to the interpretation of the court. It was a good idea in principle to try to control what was spent and to see where it came from, but we really ought to talk sense and stop having this sort of nonsense, game playing and stupidity. We should address the problem and see what we can do about it. I am not surprised that people exceeded the limits. Maybe I should not make any admission but I do not know if anyone in the country ever fully read the 58 pages of guidelines. The whole thing is ridiculous.