Reform Group To Press On (Press, 5 July 1975)

On 5 July 1975, Mr J. W. Goodwin, the secretary of the New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Society, stated that opponents of homosexual law reform had inadvertently kept the issue in the public eye. His comments followed the defeat of the Crimes Amendment Bill, a private member’s bill introduced by MP Mr V. Young. Goodwin suggested that if those opposed to the topic had truly wanted it to fade from discussion, they should have supported the bill, as its defeat ensured continued debate. He noted that the parliamentary vote was particularly significant, occurring exactly eight years after the House of Commons had endorsed homosexual law reform in the UK after numerous unsuccessful attempts. Goodwin highlighted that the failure of the bill in New Zealand did not signify a definitive rejection of the cause, especially given that over 20 members of Parliament did not participate in the vote. He pointed out the absence of three key Cabinet Ministers who typically advocated for homosexual law reform: Prime Minister Mr Rowling, Minister of Justice Dr Finlay, and Minister of Tourism Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan, all of whom were out of the country at the time. Goodwin expressed gratitude to Mr Young for his persistent efforts in advancing the private member's bill over the past year, framing the continued attention on the subject as a potential opportunity for future discussions and reforms.

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