Mr Muldoon Opposes Abortion Law Change (Press, 27 July 1974)

On 26 July 1974, during the National Party's conference in Auckland, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Muldoon, stated that he was opposed to any changes in the law on abortion, while expressing his support for Mr. V. S. Young’s homosexual reform bill. He opened his address by acknowledging the contributions of Deputy Leader Mr. Taiboys and former Prime Ministers Keith Holyoake and Jack Marshall. He emphasised that differing opinions within the caucus should not be viewed as divisive but rather as a display of healthy discussion, although he underscored the unity among members in their pursuit of a National victory in the upcoming 1975 elections. Mr. Muldoon also addressed what he referred to as “lunatic fringe groups” and expressed his surprise that the New Zealand media often gravitated towards the extreme views of these groups. He described the term “liberal” as overused and clarified that the National Party did not align with the extreme interpretations of liberalism, but rather with a more traditional understanding, likening it to the philosophy of former Prime Minister Dick Seddon which advocated for a fair society for all citizens. He articulated that this approach includes compassion for the less fortunate and protection for ordinary citizens from antisocial elements. Notably, Mr. Muldoon pledged that National Party members would be free to vote according to their consciences on major issues of homosexual law reform and abortion, predicting that the conference would see significant debate on both issues without acrimony. While he supported the homosexual reform bill, he did criticise groups such as Gay Liberation for causing harm to the cause they advocate. He advocated for understanding and compassion for those affected by homosexuality, stating that legal threats should be removed. Regarding abortion, Mr. Muldoon was firm in his belief that life should be valued and upheld, arguing against the changing of laws to decriminalise it. In addition to discussing social issues, Mr. Muldoon critiqued the Labour Government, claiming they were mismanaging the economy due to a lack of experience and exhibiting prejudice. He called out their post-election foreign policy promises as hypocritical, specifically mentioning ongoing trade relations with countries like Chile and South Africa, highlighting a disconnect between their moral claims and actual policy.

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