Passing of Relationships Bill another step to ending
discrimination in New Zealand
The passing today of the
Relationships (Statutory References) Bill was another
important step towards ending discrimination in New Zealand,
says Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope.
Mr
Benson-Pope reiterated the Government's commitment to human
rights. He said introducing the Relationships and Civil
Union Bills into Parliament had been a Labour election
manifesto promise.
The passing of this legislation was
made all the more significant because the issues were
treated as conscience issues in Parliament and passed
because of cross-party support.
"There is no place in New
Zealand society for this kind of discrimination," said Mr
Benson-Pope. "These Bills were always about justice and
fairness and Parliament was right to back them."
Mr
Benson-Pope thanked his Parliamentary colleagues from all
parties who supported the Relationships Bill, which passed
its third reading today with a roughly two-thirds majority.
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