Media statement
For immediate release
Thursday, 6 May 2004

Dunne: civil unions slipping out of sight?

United Future leader, Peter Dunne, today suggested that the Government may be surreptitiously trying to slip its controversial Civil Unions Bill out of sight.

“Increasingly, this Bill to legalise gay marriage is proving to be electoral poison for the Labour Party and it is becoming an embarrassment,” said Mr Dunne.

“It’s interesting to note the timeline of this Bill: in July last year, the Government was gung-ho over the Bill and expected to introduce it into the House by the end of 2003.

“The Prime Minister was pushing the Bill enthusiastically, but somehow the timetable began to slip.

“Early this year, it was reported that the Bill would be introduced by the end of March. Today, the deputy Prime Minister said it might be introduced this month or possibly in June.”

Mr Dunne said it was clear the Government was trying to get rid of the Civil Unions Bill and said United Future would be happy to join the Government in waving “this misconceived piece of silliness” goodbye forever.

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