Twenty years after the successful passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, then-National MP for Remuera, Douglas Graham, who voted against the bill, says “he was pleased that it passed” as he “personally favoured” the bill. Graham, since knighted, was a long-serving National MP and Minister in the Bolger government. His stellar career in Parliament included periods as Minister of Justice and Minister of Treaty Negotiations, during which time he established the socially progressive Waitangi Tribunal to resolve historical injustices perpetrated against Maori. In 1986, he, along with Michael Cox, National member for the Manawatu electorate, were widely suspected of being supportive of law reform, but ultimately voted against it. “My electorate was clearly not in favour of the bill, and as my vote wasn't needed, I was relieved of the clash between my electorate and my personal view,” Graham told GayNZ.com. “I personally favoured the bill, but waited to see if they had enough votes… it seemed to me to be the right thing to do.” Fran Wilde, the Labour MP who sponsored the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, has labelled Graham's decision “a bit pathetic,” given it was a conscience vote and there was no expectation that members would vote along party lines.