08 August 2004

NZ First Calls For Referendum On Civil Union Bill

New Zealand First MP Edwin Perry has called for a public referendum to be held on the Civil Union and Relationship (Statutory References) bills.

The Justice and Electoral committee has been hearing submissions on both bills, which would allow same-sex and de-facto couples to legally register their relationships and have rights equal to those of married couples.

“Many of the submissions received by the committee argue that the issue of civil union is too important to be decided on by 120 MPs,” said Mr Perry.

“It is an issue that a lot of people feel strongly about. Many are divided over what the legislation could mean for the nation as a whole.

“As part of New Zealand First policy, we believe that issues major affecting New Zealanders as a whole should go to a referendum.

“The Civil Union Bill should not be a Government decision, but rather one that is left to the people to decide,” concluded Mr Perry.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>