Reform Supporters Delay Final Vote (Press, 3 July 1986)

On 2 July 1986, a crucial moment in New Zealand's legislative process unfolded regarding the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The bill, which was being fiercely debated in Parliament, faced the possibility of being defeated, but its supporters managed to delay the final vote by a slim margin and with only ten minutes to spare before Parliament closed for the night. This was achieved when a call from the anti-reform lobby to put the motion to a vote was filed, leading to a narrow victory for the pro-reformists when Mr George Gair, a National Party member from North Shore, sided with them.

Ms Fran Wilde, the bill's Labour Party sponsor from Wellington Central, highlighted the importance of Mr Gair's vote, noting his consistent procedural support for the legislation despite his challenges with upholding 16 as the age of consent. Earlier in the evening, an attempt to send the bill back to the committee for reconsideration of the age issue was decisively rejected, with a vote of 22 to 63 against it. This defeat prevented the introduction of the Burdon amendment, which sought to raise the age of consent to 19, as well as a proposal by Dr Bill Sutton to set it at 18 for anal intercourse.

The public galleries were filled with spectators during what proved to be a challenging night for Ms Wilde, as she faced a confident Opposition believed to have sufficient votes to defeat the bill in a third reading. The approach was remarkable as the usually stonewalling pro-reform side was able to field eleven speakers compared to the opposition's three. The tension escalated as the anti-reform camp confidently claimed they had the numbers to succeed when their opponents called for a recount of the votes. Mr John Banks, a notable opponent of the reform, claimed they had a two-vote advantage in estimation.

The outcome of the bill remained uncertain, hinging largely on attendance and alignment of members when the final vote occurred. At that point, eight members were absent from the session, with four supporters and four opponents, effectively cancelling each other out. Notably absent supporters included well-known Labour figures such as Ms Helen Clark and Mr Mike Moore, while opponents included former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon.

Overall, the events shown on this night highlighted the intense divisions within Parliament over the Homosexual Law Reform Bill and established the stage for a dramatic conclusion to its legislative journey. The atmosphere was charged, and the outcome would rest on the dynamics of the remaining votes, with significant implications for the advancement of homosexual rights in New Zealand.

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