Mr Mclay Rejects Bill (Press, 7 May 1985)
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Summary: Mr Mclay Rejects Bill (Press, 7 May 1985)
On 6 May 1985, Opposition Leader Mr McLay expressed strong opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill currently under consideration by Parliament. In an interview published in the “Dominion” newspaper, he stated that he personally finds homosexuality “abhorrent” and believes that landlords should have the right to evict homosexuals and employers should be able to refuse them jobs based on their sexual orientation. The bill seeks to prevent discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation, which Mr McLay deemed “quite unacceptable.”
He claimed that feedback from his electorate was overwhelmingly against the bill, with a ratio of approximately 10 to 1 opposed. However, he noted that even if the majority of his electorate supported the bill, he would not necessarily vote in favour of it. He highlighted that the bill would grant homosexuality status under the Human Rights Commission Act, which he argued could criminalise those who genuinely believe homosexuality is a sin. He remarked that many individuals in the community hold these beliefs sincerely.
Earlier, Mr McLay had stated in the House of Representatives that he might have supported a 1974 reform bill proposed by MP Mr Venn Young, which aimed solely to decriminalise homosexual acts without addressing discrimination. However, he clarified that his support for Young's bill was contingent upon a review of his position. He specifically disagreed with the bill's provision setting the age of consent for homosexuals at 16, arguing that this age was too low. He believed that such a provision implied that homosexual behaviour over a certain age would be considered normal or acceptable, a notion he firmly rejected.
Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon also publicly opposed the current bill in his weekly column for the “Auckland Star.” He noted that while he had supported Mr Young’s original bill, he would vote against the current Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which he felt extended beyond mere decriminalisation to normalising homosexual behaviour as an alternative lifestyle, a stance he could not support. The debate surrounding the bill continues to elicit strong reactions from various political figures and the public, highlighting the contentious issues surrounding homosexuality and discrimination in New Zealand during this period.
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