Royal Succession Bill keeps discrimination

MEDIA RELEASE 2 July 2013

"Today's debate on the Royal succession highlights everything that's wrong with having the British monarch as New Zealand's head of State" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Parliament debated the Royal Succession Bill for the first time today. The Bill, which dove-tails to UK legislation passed earlier this year, removes some discriminatory aspects of the Royal succession among members of Britain's Royal family, but keeps the discrimination against Roman Catholics in place. This is because removing such discrimination would put New Zealand's succession law out of line with the UK.

"This emphasises that the British monarchy is not our monarchy - there's no way New Zealanders would accept discrimination against one religion for an office of our country. It is part of our law that New Zealand citizens are protected from discrimination on the basis of religious belief or lack of belief" continued Mr Holden.

"New Zealand's parliament needs to address the real issue, which is who New Zealand's next head of State should be. Changing the succession law for the British Royal baby is simply too little, too late. New Zealand babies are unable to grow up and aspire to be head of State of their own country. Our MPs need to address that discrimination first" concluded Mr Holden.

ENDS

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