Gerry Brownlee National says it blocked a move from Charles Chauvel to condemn anti-gay legislation in two African nations because he didn’t let them know about it beforehand, something the gay Labour MP contests. He tried to put forward a motion against moves to cement homophobia in law in Uganda and Nigeria, but was denied leave to do so by leader of the house Gerry Brownlee. A spokesman for Brownlee says it’s because Chauvel did not talk to any other parties before moving his motion “The convention is that Members who wish to move motions (as Mr Chauvel’s colleague Mr Sua William Sio did just prior) consult with other parties before moving motions in the house. I’m not even sure Mr Chauvel’s party knew he intended to put the motion.” However Chauvel is adamant he sought support from every party, late last year: “I received positive responses from the Greens and NZ First, and a non-committal one from the Maori Party,” he says. “National did not reply to me but their senior whip – Michael Woodhouse – told our senior whip – Chris Hipkins – that National would not support the motion. I decided to move it in any event in the hope that they would change their minds – sadly, no luck.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 30th January 2013 - 3:11pm