The Day In Parliament (Press, 5 June 1985)

On 4 June 1985, the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir David Beattie, granted the Royal Assent to the Imprest Supply Act during a parliamentary session that started at 2.30 p.m. Various petitions were presented by members of Parliament (MPs) on that day. Mr J. B. Bolger from the National Party presented a petition from the New Life Christian Fellowship Church in Taumarunui opposing the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Meanwhile, Mr P. F. Dunne, representing the Labour Party in Ohariu, brought forward a request from Graham McKissock and 29 others urging the government to withdraw the Union Membership Bill. Furthermore, Mr D. L. Kidd from the National Party presented a petition from the Nurses’ Association and 146 affiliated individuals seeking the repeal of the State Services Conditions of Employment Amendment Act. Mr J. A. Elder from West Auckland also presented a petition from Linda Mary Hart and 1,290 others calling for enhancements to police capabilities in West Auckland, specifically in terms of radio communications and the availability of police incident cars. Additionally, Mr T. C. Mallard from Hamilton West presented a petition from Dirk Govert Vanderpyl, again requesting the rejection of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. In total, seven notices of motion were brought before the House. During the session, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Tapsell, introduced a supplement to the report from the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Broadcasting Corporation's contractual agreements with employees and advertising matters, moving for its printing. Ministers also answered 18 questions raised by MPs. The debate then shifted to the second reading and committee stages of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, which was broken into 22 parts and successfully progressed through committee stages with a third reading. Following this, the Acting Minister of Labour, Mr Prebble, sought urgency for the Union Membership Bill, which led to a division in the House resulting in a vote of 41-22 in favour of discussing the bill. After a dinner break, the discussion resumed at 7.30 p.m., focusing on whether the Union Membership Bill should be considered part by part. The Government's motion to put the question was sustained by a vote of 39-26 at 9 p.m., enabling a detailed debate on the bill. The House moved into committee for the bill's first part. By 11.30 p.m., a motion from the chairman to put the question was accepted, following which the Government won another vote confirming the bill would not take effect until 1988 as proposed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay. Debate on the bill ultimately paused as the House rose at 11.52 p.m.

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