Parliament Wrestles With Bill (Press, 10 April 1986)
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Summary: Parliament Wrestles With Bill (Press, 10 April 1986)
On 9 April 1986, the New Zealand Parliament focused on the second part of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which aims to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Human Rights Commission Act to include provisions related to sexuality. During the discussions, various amendments were introduced to limit the bill's scope. These amendments sought exemptions for certain employment sectors, including the Armed Forces, police, prison and traffic services, schools, domestic workers in private homes, religious organisations, and roles involving authority over adolescent boys. Labour MP Mrs Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan also advocated for an exemption concerning the rental of residential accommodation.
Despite the extensive debate, no decisions were reached during the session due to tactics employed by opponents of the reform, who engaged in what was described as imaginative stone-walling. They argued that the provisions within the bill could not be approved by the House without an appropriation, claiming that the anti-discriminatory clauses would increase the workload of the Human Rights Commission and may necessitate additional staffing. Furthermore, they raised concerns that the bill could lead to increased government expenditures for addressing the A.I.D.S. epidemic, which they believed would be a consequence of the legislation.
The Speaker of the House, Dr Wall, was called to provide a ruling on the matter. However, he ultimately dismissed the arguments against the bill, noting that there was a lack of substantial evidence to back up the claims made by its opponents. As a result, the discussion around the Homosexual Law Reform Bill continued without resolution, reflecting the contentious nature of the legislation and the deep divisions it has created within Parliament.
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