For immediate release
Monday, 29 November 2004

Prostitution Petition Update

Gordon Copeland and Larry Baldock, United Future MPs and the promoters of a petition concerning the Prostitution Act today issued an update on progress.

“We require approximately 273,000 signatures (10% of the electoral roll) by 10 January 2005 to ensure that a referendum on the repeal of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 will be taken concurrent with the 2005 general election, ” said Gordon Copeland.

“We lodged 144,000 signatures with the Clerk’s Office in Parliament on 29 October and have had a further 66,000 signatures collected or pledged since that time, moving the total up to 210,000. Accordingly the task is now straightforward if we wish to see a referendum on this controversial subject as part of next year’s general election. We have about five weeks to go and an additional 63,000 signatures to collect. Based on progress to date that is achievable.”

The MP’s said “People will recall that the Prostitution Reform Act became the law of the land in June 2003 on a vote of 60 for, 59 against, and one abstention – the closest possible result! We believe that all New Zealanders should, in the light of that effective dead heat, be given an opportunity to have their say on this matter via a national referendum.

“We are pleased with progress to date and remain hopeful that the target number of signatures will be secured by the 10 January cut off date.”

Petition forms are available at http://www.stoptheabuse.org.nz/

Ends.

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