Reform Opponents To Seek Funds (Press, 14 July 1986)

On 14 July 1986, a coalition of opponents to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in New Zealand announced plans to establish a fighting fund to challenge the recently passed legislation, which decriminalises homosexual acts between males over the age of 16. The bill was narrowly approved by Parliament, with a vote of 49 to 44, following sponsorship by Wellington Central Labour MP, Ms Fran Wilde. The coalition, known as the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, aims to raise approximately $800,000 through a campaign that will solicit donations of $1 from the public via newspaper advertisements set to run across New Zealand within the next ten days. The funds will primarily be used to gauge public opinion on the bill and actively work against the politicians who supported it, with the intention to defeat them in the upcoming elections. Key figures targeted by the coalition include Labour politicians who played significant roles in the bill's passage, among them Ms Wilde herself, Mr Trevor Mallard, Mrs Helen Clark, Mrs Anne Fraser, and Mr Phil Goff. The Opposition figures they are looking to unseat include Mr George Gair and Mr Ian McLean. Mr Barry Reed, the national spokesman for the coalition based in Auckland, expressed concerns over the process of the bill's approval, claiming that the decision did not represent a genuine conscience vote and that established Parliamentary procedures had been undermined. He articulated a sentiment of widespread outrage among the community regarding the legislation's passage, indicating dissatisfaction with how Labour utilised its parliamentary majority to ensure the bill's success. Reed asserted that if the traditions of Parliamentary procedure had been maintained, he might have been more accepting of the outcome. He conveyed his serious concerns for democracy in New Zealand, stating that, in his opinion, it was currently at risk, perhaps even more so than the morals of the youth. Reed also indicated that the coalition is capable of reaching upwards of two million voters, demonstrating a significant level of organisation and determination to mobilise opposition against the reform.

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