Committee of the Whole House

The recording provides a detailed account of the intense discussions that took place during the Committee of the Whole House on April 9, 1986, centered on the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in New Zealand. The debates were focused on Part 2 of the Bill, which sought to introduce anti-discrimination provisions preventing prejudice based on sexual orientation in areas such as employment, accommodation, and provision of goods and services.

Throughout the session, various parliamentarians, including Bill Sutton, Fran Wilde, Geoff Braybrooke, Graeme Lee, Helen Clark, John Banks, Neil Morrison, Roger Maxwell, Roger McClay, Russell Marshall, Trevor Mallard, and Winston Peters, exchanged views on the Bill's impact and implications. The arguments ranged from concerns over perceived threats to traditional values and religious freedoms, to apprehensions over public health issues such as AIDS, to strong advocacy for equality and human rights.

Opponents of the Bill asserted that it contradicted basic New Zealand values and feared it would encourage an atmosphere of moral decline, potentially exacerbating public health concerns. Some members raised procedural questions and pointed out potential issues related to the administrative applications of anti-discrimination law, expressing anxiety that law might be misused or result in unintended negative consequences.

Supporters, on the other hand, argued for the Bill's necessity in ensuring equal treatment of all citizens, irrespective of sexual orientation. They challenged the opposition's connection of the Bill with the AIDS crisis and underscored that the lack of legal protection for homosexual individuals was a barrier to effective public health strategies, particularly in combating AIDS.

The discussions were marked by a wide range of perspectives, with some members contributing measured legal and ethical arguments, and others engaging in emotional appeals. Various allegations and personal accusations were exchanged, reflecting the polarized nature of the debate. The proponents emphasized the Bill's alignment with the principles of the Human Rights Commission and international standards for equality, arguing that discrimination in any form is unacceptable.

Ultimately, the recording reflects the depth of division within the House on the issue of homosexual law reform, highlighting the various facets of the debate, from questions of human rights and social justice to concerns about societal standards and the potential impacts of legislation on community health and morality.

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Bill Sutton Fran Wilde Geoff Braybrooke Graeme Lee Helen Clark John Banks Neil Morrison Roger Maxwell Roger McClay Russell Marshall Trevor Mallard Winston Peters

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