Mr Mclay Accused Of About-turn On Bill (Press, 1 May 1985)

On 1 May 1985, Mr McLay, the Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand, faced criticism from Ms Fran Wilde, a Labour member of Parliament for Wellington Central, for his reversal on the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Ms Wilde accused Mr McLay of using the bill as a "political football," highlighting what she deemed an inconsistency in his position on LGBTQ+ rights. Although Mr McLay had previously presented himself as a liberal supporter of the legalisation of homosexuality, he announced his opposition to the bill over the weekend, which Ms Wilde termed an about-turn. During his initial introduction of the bill in Parliament, Mr McLay had also expressed some concerns regarding the age of consent being set at 16. However, his recent opposition stemmed from two main reasons: his disapproval of the clauses related to the Human Rights Commission and the results of his consultations with his electorate, which indicated a majority against the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Ms Wilde countered Mr McLay's reasoning, suggesting that he did not need to oppose the entire bill simply because he had reservations about certain sections. She further questioned whether Mr McLay would reconsider his position as leader, given the low levels of support he was experiencing within his party. This exchange highlights the continued tensions surrounding the debate over the Homosexual Law Reform Bill and reflects the complex dynamics of political support and public opinion in New Zealand at that time.

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