And Yet Again 18 Year Old Vote Clarified...

The confusing use of proxy votes and amendments to the issues option in the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2) has led to a further recalculation of the votes cast in setting the minimum drinking age at 18. However the end outcome has not changed, but it has become closer still.

A contrite National Chief Whip, John Carter said that two members who had wished their proxy votes to be cast ‘no’ in fact had their votes cast for ‘yes’ and one who intended to vote ‘yes’ had been inadvertently cast no.

This now makes the final vote 58 to 55.

Members were cautioned that they could not change their votes in retrospect - for fear of changing their vote due to outside pressure - but only where a genuine mistake had been made.

Mr Carter assured the House he had double checked to ensure that all proxies cast on the Government’s side now matched the MPs attention.

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