George Gair, a former senior National MP who played a key role in the passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, has died. George Gair was 88. Image: PRINZ. In early July 1986, he voted against Parliament deciding immediately on the Bill, tipping the scales in favour of deferring the vote until 9 July. It gave a Bill which down to the wire the breathing space it needed to be passed – and allowed those supporting it to ensure every pro-reform MP possible was present for the final vote. He initially supported the intent of the proposed legislation, except for its setting of the age of consent at 16, the same as for straight people. He preferred a higher age. Gair’s conservative colleagues expected him to vote against the final reading of the Bill for this reason. George Gair in 1986 However, he told the House that, despite the age of consent still being proposed to be 16 he could not vote against it because the change was long overdue. He had considered abstaining but decided that would be just passing responsibility to others. His government colleagues were aghast and unleash a voice a storm of criticism of his stance. Harshest in condemnation was John Banks, who was vehemently and vocally against the bill since its introduction. Banks accused Gair, his own party's deputy leader, of “shallow humbug and wet rhetoric,” and said if the law passed it would be “remembered as a sad and sickening day for New Zealand.” The Labour government MPs, plus National's long-time bill supporter Katherine O'Regan, and George Gair and colleague Ian McLean brought the ayes total to 49, a win over the 44 votes against. Fran Wilde later reflected “George was pretty helpful. He was an old liberal. He knew we had to get the bill through, but he argued for a higher age of consent. But he was onside. He was an elder statesman, and that was good.”George Gair was 88, and died on Monday. A public funeral service will be held at Dil's Funeral Services in Albany, Auckland, on Friday 4 September at 3pm.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 19th August 2015 - 12:51pm