Media Statement
For immediate release
Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Smith: Next it will be same-sex couples adopting children

Those pushing the Civil Union Bill will next push for same-sex couples to be allowed to adopt children, United Future's Murray Smith said today.

The move would be entirely consistent with the Government's expressed intention to amend all laws that it believes perpetuate unfair discrimination, Mr Smith.

"Unfortunately what it so often calls 'unfair discrimination' is a country mile away from the view of the average New Zealander. It is social engineering and it is about changing our nation, our values, our lifestyle and our standards.

"However, unfortunately, as in the case of civil unions, where the reality is a form of same-sex marriage, it is pursued in a quite devious way.

"Kiwi don't want same-sex marriage and they certainly don't want moves towards same-sex couples adopting children," he said.

Mr Smith tackled the sponsor of the Civil Union Bill, Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope, in Parliament today, raising the issue of moves towards same-sex couples adopting children.

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>>