Points Of Order Delay Homosexual Law Bill (Press, 20 March 1986)
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Summary: Points Of Order Delay Homosexual Law Bill (Press, 20 March 1986)
On the evening of 19 March 1986, members of Parliament engaged in procedural debates regarding the contentious Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The discussions mainly revolved around the handling of various amendments proposed to the bill, including those aimed at raising the legal age of consent. The debates, however, were mired in confusion, with extensive points of order being raised as members sought clarity on the procedures.
At one point, Mr John Terris, the committee chairman, had to call on the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Mr M. L. Wellington, a National Party member from Papakura, after he challenged the chair's authority. Wellington was allowed to remain in the chamber only after he retracted his comments and apologised to Mr Terris.
The bill's debate commenced sluggishly, taking half an hour just to decide to review the legislation section by section. Mr Graeme Lee, a prominent opponent of the bill, proposed two amendments to extend consideration of the bill, which were rejected. Following this, he moved to suspend the Standing Orders, but this motion also met with defeat.
Mr George Gair from North Shore raised a notice of an amendment to change the legal age of consent to 18, describing it as a middle-ground approach. He remarked on the necessity for balancing the diverse opinions regarding the bill, highlighting that complete opposition to the bill disregarded prevailing realities, just as complete support for the bill failed to acknowledge its unpopularity among certain groups.
Tensions escalated later in the evening when Mr Wellington highlighted an instance of public interference during Mr John Banks' speech, prompting the acting chairman, Mr Trevor Young, to issue warnings against further disruptions. He ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to monitor the situation in the public galleries, where around 40 spectators were present at the time. This atmosphere reflected the contentious and divided opinions surrounding the reform bill, as Parliament continued to navigate the complexities of the proposed changes to the law.
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