Miss Waring In Surprise Move (Press, 29 August 1979)

On 29 August 1979, Miss Marilyn Waring, a Government member for Waipa, made headlines in Parliament by proposing a reduction in the Justice Department's budget. Her motion aimed to decrease the funding by $218,328, the amount allocated to maintain the Abortion Supervisory Committee. This proposal was notably supported by Mr W. W. Freer, the longest-serving member of Parliament, who remarked that such an action by a Government member was unprecedented. Waring articulated her concerns regarding the financial burden imposed by the committee, highlighting that the funds covered fees for committee members, consultancy, travel, and direct charges. She argued that with the current shortage of magistrates, the committee should not require a magistrate in the chair, declaring that the expenditure represented a poor use of public funds. Waring accused the committee of duplicating the responsibilities that should fall under Parliament and the Health Department, including reviewing abortion laws and overseeing licences for abortion facilities. She maintained that these functions were already funded and fulfilled by the Health Department. Waring also pointed out that the committee's responsibilities included ensuring adequate counselling facilities across New Zealand, a task she claimed they had failed to accomplish, as even the Mental Health Foundation had not acknowledged their efforts. By emphasising that the Health Department already managed information dissemination related to abortion, she insisted that there was no need for a separate watchdog committee that was costing taxpayers nearly $250,000 a year. While she expressed her regard for the Minister of Justice, Mr McLay, and acknowledged the statutory mandates that bound him to the existing budgetary allocations, she felt the need to highlight what she perceived as an misappropriation of funds. This motion came up during discussions around the Justice Department estimates, typically a domain for opposition challenges. In response, McLay clarified that, as a Minister, he was obliged to support his department's financial provisions, regardless of his personal stance against the legislation that had established the committee. The Government member for Hamilton West, Mr M. J. Minogue, interjected that amending the related legislation would have been a more appropriate route than cutting off the committee's financial support. Adding to the debate, Mr D. R. Lange from the Labour Party proposed a further amendment to increase the funding cut to $350,000, citing failures in other areas managed by the department, such as legal aid and electoral reform. However, Lange's amendment was ultimately rejected by a vote of 44-30, while Waring's proposal faced a similar fate and was dismissed through a voice vote. The proceedings concluded with the debate being adjourned at 10.30 PM.

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