Young Nats Vote Against ‘gay’ Reform (Press, 3 June 1985)
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Summary: Young Nats Vote Against ‘gay’ Reform (Press, 3 June 1985)
At the Young Nationals policy conference held in Rotorua over the weekend, support for the Homosexual Law Reform Bill was rejected. The conference did, however, narrowly support a call for a public referendum on the issue. This remit originated from the Wellington division, which had advocated for the legislation currently before Parliament. Proponents of the law reform argued that the decriminalisation of homosexual acts aligns with the National Party’s values of personal freedom, asserting that the government should not interfere in private matters. Conversely, Whangarei MP Mr John Banks voiced strong opposition to the bill, raising concerns about what he perceived as societal and moral decay resulting from potential legislative changes. The conference also discussed educational reforms, agreeing on the necessity for the Government to reassess the secondary school syllabus to incorporate the perspectives of parents, employers, and students. Delegates stressed the importance of community involvement in decisions related to education, advocating for the inclusion of various subjects such as trade unionism, sex education, and peace studies within the curriculum. Additionally, the conference addressed the National Party’s challenges in appealing to the youth vote, calling for the establishment of a task force to investigate the reasons behind the party's failure to engage younger voters in the previous election. Another significant decision taken by the attendees was to limit the Government’s role in the economy, aiming to keep public expenditure at a manageable level, approximately 30 per cent of gross domestic product. Finally, a remit from the Canterbury-Westland division encouraged the National Party to consider adopting an independent floating exchange rate as part of its economic policy.
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