Leading up to today's vote on the anti-gay Marriage Amendment Bill, during question time in Parliament yesterday MP Mark Burton announced that to vote in favour of the Bill would "constitute a poor process and a complete waste of parliament's time". The Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill seeks to redefine marriage as solely between a man and a woman, and to amend the Bill of Rights so that any measure which seeks to promote "traditional" forms of marriage not be considered discriminatory. Gordon Copeland, sponsor of the Bill asked the Minister of Justice whether he agrees that marriage is, and will continue to be available solely to a man and a woman; whether this continues to be government policy, and whether same-sex marriage may be reconsidered in light of overseas judgments on the matter. Minister of Justice Mark Burton responded by saying that the current position will continue to stand, as there has been no appeal to consider same-sex marriage in this country. Copeland then suggested that in light of overseas developments in same-sex marriage appeals, his Bill must be voted for to prevent that happening here. In response, Burton said "As I have already indicated, there is no such basis to reconsider the position. To vote in favour of the Bill, in my view, would constitute a poor process and a complete waste of parliament's time." Parliament will vote on the Bill today.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th December 2005 - 12:00pm