Hearings halt decried

Press, 4 October 1985, Page 1

Hearings halt decried

PA Wellington The Human Rights Commission had been denied the opportunity of making oral submissions on the controversial Homosexual Law Reform Bill, said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, yesterday. The commission, along with the National Council of Women, was among 83 groups or individuals who had indicated they wanted to appear before the committee to present their views, Mr McLay said at a

press conference. But a commission spokesman later said that the commission had not been expecting to appear before the committee. It had circulated a statement on the issue, but had not made a formal submission. The bill seeks to decriminalise consenting sexual activity for adult males over the age of 16. It will also provide protection for children under 16 and also seeks to amend the Human Rights Commission Act to

outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Mr McLay said the Opposition would try to refer the controversial bill back to a select committee to hear more submissions. Government members on the Justice and Law Reform Select Committee on Wednesday voted, 3-2, not to hear any further submissions and to report the bill back to Parliament. It is expected to be before the House soon.

The move was strongly opposed by National members who described it as undemocratic and unprincipled. Mr McLay said the Opposition would attempt to refer the legislation back to the committee so that the ale and organisations 1 be asked if they wanted to make formal oral submissions. In light of the controversy that had raged about the issue the least the committee could do was to listen to the submissions, he said;— r