A.I.D.S. Research Swayed M.P. To Support Bill (Press, 11 July 1986)
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Summary: A.I.D.S. Research Swayed M.P. To Support Bill (Press, 11 July 1986)
On 11 July 1986, media reported how Ian McLean, the National MP for Tarawera, had taken the unexpected step of voting in favour of the bill, which ultimately passed with a narrow margin of 49 votes to 44 on 9 July. His decision was influenced by extensive research into AIDS over the past year, including insights gained from meeting Australia's leading AIDS task force expert at the Melbourne Medical School.
Initially, McLean opposed both the introduction and the further progression of the bill. However, his research prompted him to reassess the situation. He publicly stated that AIDS posed a threat comparable to the plague epidemics of the Middle Ages, and he believed it was crucial to delay the virus's spread while hoping for a medical breakthrough. He emphasised the need for male homosexuals to adopt safer practices and seek testing for AIDS, arguing that the criminalisation of homosexual acts discouraged these necessary steps.
McLean contended that changing the law was essential to support public health initiatives concerning AIDS, as evidence suggested that removing the criminal status attached to homosexual acts would encourage individuals to seek help without fear of prosecution. He pointed out that in other regions where similar changes had occurred, there were positive outcomes. Despite his support for the bill, McLean expressed a preference for setting the legal age for homosexual acts at 20 rather than 16. He attributed the more lenient age provision to the reluctance of opponents to compromise on the matter.
McLean’s vote not only marked a turning point in the progression of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill but also highlighted the complex interplay between public health concerns and legislative changes.
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