Opponents of ‘gay’ bill feel frustration

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 8

Opponents of ‘gay’ bill feel frustration

PA Wellington Angry opponents of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill last evening declared they had enough votes to defeat the measure, but said its supporters chose not to debate it. Three Opposition members who have led the campaign opposing the controversial bill said they were confident it would have been defeated by at least four votes if it had gone to a third and final reading vote last evening. Urgency measures were completed just before 6 p.m. but the House was adjourned until today.

The bill is not now likely to be considered

until early July as members will attend a ViceRegal function at Government House next week and the House will be in recess the next week. The Chief Government Whip, Dr Michael Cullen, said that if Parliament had chosen to continue sitting last evening, it would have had to start a new Parliamentary day. This would have meant beginning with normal Parliamentary business, such as question time, and the bill might not have come up before the usual 11 p.m. rising anyway, he said. The House decided to rise because it had made good progress on legislation before it.