Tue 4 Mar 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Russel Norman made the comments at the Big Gay Out The Green Party has launched an appeal to cover the costs of defamation action Colin Craig is taking against its co-leader Russel Norman. The litigious Conservative Party leader is holding off, for the time being, on taking legal action over Norman’s assertion at the Big Gay Out that Craig believes a gay man’s place is in the closet. He says that’s because it would be too costly and time consuming to go through all his emails and correspondence on how he feels about gay people. However he is pressing ahead with his defamation complaint against Norman for also saying Craig thinks women belong in the kitchen. Norman says the Green Party will defend the defamation action. “We are launching an appeal, because unlike Colin Craig we don’t have deep pockets. We are asking all New Zealanders who care about free speech and a tolerant society to support our defence,” he says. “The freedom of political speech and an inclusive and tolerant society are core values of the Green Party. We don’t roll over on those values just because someone with deep pockets sets their lawyer on us. “Our preference in election year is to focus on the big issues relevant to New Zealanders. In contrast Colin Craig seems to want to generate public attention by suing people who disagree with him.” Norman points out that even Prime Minister John Key says Craig should drop the case. “However the Prime Minister is still planning on gifting Colin Craig an electorate seat in a dirty deal arrangement,” he says. “John Key should rethink his electoral support for Colin Craig.” Anyone who wishes to donate to the Greens’ appeal can do so here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 4th March 2014 - 1:55pm