Parliament is to debate a "George Bush" bill next week that would permanently exclude same-sex couples from the Marriage Act and amend anti-discrimination protections for gays in the Bill of Rights. United Future MP Larry Baldock's Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill was drawn from the private member's ballot yesterday. "It is necessary, in the light of the Civil Union Act, to clarify once and for all that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and not between persons of the same sex," he said in a press statement. The bill would prevent same-sex marriages and civil unions performed overseas from being recognised in New Zealand as marriages. "My Bill also paves the way for the Government to introduce policies that strengthen and support marriage in New Zealand because of its benefits, not only for couples and families, but for society as a whole,” Baldock continued. When Baldock proposed this idea in December, the Government's response to GayNZ.com was "Yeah right!". Following repeated attacks on the Government recently over gays, lesbians and "social engineering", it is unclear what their position on Baldock's bill will be now. Labour MP Tim Barnett says he can't comment on the Government's position right now, because caucus will make a decision on Tuesday. However, it is his personal view that such a bill could backfire on its proponents. "Legislation like this threatens to revive the debate on same-sex marriage, because if such a bill were to pass, it makes marriage law even more vulnerable to human rights challenges," he told GayNZ.com. GayNZ.com is expecting an answer from the Prime Minister's office later this morning on how the Government will be responding to Baldock's bill.