The Petition

On November 5th, 1985, a significant parliamentary debate took place regarding the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in New Zealand and a petition against it. This event was recorded in the Parliament buildings in Wellington and involved prominent political figures who voiced their opinions on the matter. The audio from this debate captures a crucial moment in New Zealand's legislative history relating to human rights and equality, especially concerning the LGBTQ+ community.

The Justice and Law Reform Committee had considered petitions both for and against the progression of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill but made no recommendation. The debate highlighted the controversial nature of the petitions, questioning the integrity of the signature collection process and the representation of public sentiment. One of the points of contention was the claim by some that the method of collecting the signatures resembled propaganda rather than a genuine democratic process.

During the debate, members of Parliament (MPs) scrutinized the petitions. The criticism included allegations of overstated numbers, the questionable validity of signatures, and instances of coercion or misrepresentation. Various members conducted their investigations into the electorate-specific signatures, questioning the credibility of the purported numbers with evidence that many signatures were either invalid or deceptive.

MPs who supported the petitions sought to validate the concerns of petitioners, emphasizing the significant number of signatures and the fundamental right of the public to present petitions to Parliament. Meanwhile, those critical of the petitions expressed concerns about the motives and methods behind the collection of signatures, suggesting they may not truly reflect the qualitative weight of the proposition.

Tensions escalated to a point where there was a call for a vote of no confidence in the parliamentary committee's chairperson due to perceived partiality and mishandling of the process, though this motion did not pass. The authenticity and sincerity of the poll conducted by the supporting MPs came under scrutiny, with demands for evidence to back their claims of support within their constituencies.

The debate over the amendment, which proposed referring the petition to the government for "most favourable consideration,” became a central issue. Some MPs argued that endorsing the amendment would undermine the conscience vote and the government's neutral stance on the bill, as neither the government nor the opposition had a formal position on the bill. MPs contended that a vote in favour of the amendment would consequently misrepresent the principle of MPs voting based on individual conscience. In the end, the amendment was not agreed upon, with 34 MPs for and 39 against.

The recording of this debate is considered a historical document, showcasing a pivotal point in New Zealand's struggle with social and legislative reforms concerning human rights, particularly those of the LGBTQ+ community. It exemplifies the depth of public engagement with major social issues and the complexities of representing a diverse societal viewpoint in democratic processes.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Ann Hercus Fran Wilde Geoff Braybrooke Graeme Lee John Banks Merv Wellington Michael Cullen Norman Jones Philip Woollaston Trevor Mallard Winston Peters

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