National MP Maurice Williamson appears to be confused over civil unions – he voted for homosexual law reform in the 1980's, but can't understand why gays and lesbians want their relationships recognised. "Now that we've got their differences fully recognised they want to be the same, and I don't think it ever will be the same," he says. "I think that marriage is something that should be treated as special." Williamson sees the push for civil unions as a turnaround from the 1980's, when he says gay activists wanted to have their differences celebrated.