Anti-fundamentalist Coalition Formed (Press, 16 September 1985)

On 16 September 1985, liberal groups in Christchurch convened to establish a coalition aimed at countering perceived threats to individual rights from what they termed "Right-wing fundamentalists." This initiative was spearheaded by the Lesbian Gay Rights Action Group, with Mr Graham Harvey representing their concerns. Approximately 40 different liberal organisations attended the meeting, which included a diverse array of groups such as lesbian and gay rights advocates, women's organisations, environmentalists, family planning entities, advocates for abortion law reform, peace groups, and anti-nuclear organisations. The consensus at the meeting was that there is a pressing need to address the influence of Right-wing fundamentalism, which attendees believe has been seeping into New Zealand from the United States. Mr Harvey articulated the urgency of the situation, expressing particular concern regarding the current focus of Right-wing lobbies against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. However, he emphasized that the fundamentalist agenda extends beyond this issue, encompassing opposition to women's rights, trade unions, racial equity, and New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy. To facilitate the coalition's formation and administration, a task force composed of seven members from the various participating groups was established. They were tasked with managing correspondence and information among the coalition and interested parties. While no name for the coalition was finalised at the time of the meeting, Mr Harvey expressed optimism that it would be officially named and launched within a month, allowing other groups the opportunity to contribute ideas and become involved. Harvey reiterated the importance of public awareness regarding the fundamentalist threat, urging citizens to engage in critical thinking about societal issues rather than succumbing to fear of those who are different. He asserted that the coalition's overarching goal is to raise awareness about these pressing issues and to unite various progressive groups in defence of the rights and freedoms they believe are at risk.

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