New move on homosexual bill

Press, 24 April 1986, Page 1

New move on homosexual bill

By

PATRICIA HERBERT

in Wellington

A move will be made to have the age of consent in the Homosexual Law Reform Bill reconsidered with a view to raising it from 16. The Speaker, Dr Wall, ruled last evening that the legislation could be returned to the committal stages for further study and to consider specific amendments. If a motion is put to this effect, it will be dealt with just before the third reading, now expected to take place on May 28. If it is passed efforts to raise the age to 18 or 20 will probably be repeated and the House will have a fresh option to think about. Mr Philip Burdon (Nat., Fendalton) intends to introduce an amend-

ment making 19 the age of consent. He said yesterday that he thought 19 was "more in line with what New Zealand society wants.” Only Part I, legalising homosexuality from the age of 16, can be brought back for a second bite. Part 11, outlawing discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation, cannot be revived, having last week been thrown out in full. The bill’s sponsor, Ms Fran Wilde (Lab., Wellington Central), said she was as confident as ever that the bill would be passed “at 16” but declined to give numbers beyond saying the voting would be “very close.” Whatever changes the recommittal may result in, it will extend what has already been an extremely long debate.