Inquiry Suggested Into Homosexuality (Press, 22 April 1985)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Inquiry Suggested Into Homosexuality (Press, 22 April 1985)
On 22 April 1985, Dr John Hawley, a representative of the New Zealand Futures Trust, advocated for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate homosexual law reform instead of holding a referendum. This statement comes in the context of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill introduced in Parliament by Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde. Dr Hawley expresses concern that a referendum would yield only a reflection of public speculation and preconceptions regarding the implications of the law change, rather than informed opinions grounded in evidence. He emphasised that many New Zealanders lack direct experience concerning the effects that the proposed changes in law would entail, leading them to speculate rather than form educated opinions. Dr Hawley framed the debate surrounding the bill as a critical evaluation of whether society prioritises empirical evidence over mere speculation and conviction. He critiqued the call for a petition or referendum as indicative of a broader societal issue, claiming that it reflects a deficiency in scientific reasoning. As part of his proposal, Dr Hawley recommended that opinions be gathered from various professionals in Britain, including members of Parliament, judges, lawyers, doctors, and social workers, who could provide insights based on their experiences since homosexual acts between consenting adult males were decriminalised in 1967. He argued that these insights would be valuable for assessing the wisdom of similar legislative changes in New Zealand. The New Zealand Futures Trust, previously known as the Commission for the Future, seeks to foster well-informed public discourse on issues that are set to impact New Zealand over the next 25 years. Dr Hawley's remarks underscore the need for an evidence-based approach to the forthcoming debate on homosexual law reform, suggesting that a thorough inquiry could facilitate a more informed and constructive discussion amongst New Zealanders.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand