Monday, 6 December 2004
“Shelve the Civil Union Bill”
United Future MP Gordon Copeland today called on the Government to shelve its controversial Civil Union Bill.
“The Government has the cart before the horse,” he said.
“Parliament should first be debating the Relationships Bill, which amends around 120 pieces of legislation so that
de-facto couples, whether homosexual or heterosexual, have the same legal status as married people.
“Instead the Government is pressing ahead with the “gay marriage” Bill and dividing the nation in a way I have not seen
since the 1981 Springbok tour.
“It is all so unnecessary. No de-facto heterosexual couple has expressed to me any interest in civil-unioning, and why
should they when they can marry at any time?
“Also information provided by the parliamentary library to all MPs indicates that once the initial novelty factor wears
off, based on overseas statistics, we could be looking at only around 55 gay civil unions a year.
“Why risk creating deep divisions within New Zealand society for that? It makes no sense. I say shelve the Bill while
there is still time,” said Mr Copeland.
ENDS