GayNZ.com contributor Jim Peron says NZ First leader Winston Peters has abused parliamentary privilege by falsely naming him yesterday as a paedophile and pornography trader. "It shows he does not care whose life he destroys in his quest to score political points during an election year. He has no human decency," he says. Peters used parliamentary privilege yesterday to claim in the House that Peron was a paedophile with links with the North American Man Boy Love Association, had his work visa cancelled in South Africa because of dubious business activities and was using New Zealand as a platform to promote "extreme political propaganda". Peron denies all the allegations, which ACT leader Rodney Hide challenged Peters to repeat outside the House, where privilege rules no longer apply. Peters replied that he would, but when challenged to do so on TV One's “Close Up” programme last night, did not. NAMBLA used to hold meetings and distribute their newsletter via a bookstore that Peron bought in San Francisco in the 1980's, but after taking over the store he asked them to find other space. "I regret not taking action sooner but hindsight always makes us wiser,” he says. “I am not a member or a supporter and never have been either." GayNZ.com will carry a full-length interview with Jim Peron within the next 24 hours in which he will respond to all of Peters' allegations, which also cast aspersions on his immigration status and business.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 10th March 2005 - 12:00pm