MEDIA ADVISORY

5 November 2008

Copy of Letter to Speaker of the House Regarding Boobs on Bikes Parade

The Speaker of the House of Representatives

margaret.wilson@parliament.govt.nz

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Dear Madam,

This letter is written as a matter of urgency and a reply is requested urgently please, at the latest before 1700hrs today, Wednesday 5 November 2008. If your response is delayed we may suffer commercial disadvantage.

We understand that the parade in support of a commercial erotica exhibition (the parade is colloquially termed "Boobs on Bikes') will be allowed to enter the ground of Parliament on Friday 7 November 2008. We understand that Parliamentary Security and the Office of the Speaker have approved this.

I urgently request answers to the following questions please:

1) Is the presence of a parade that has such strong commercial overtones in the grounds of Parliament acceptable under the rules of Parliament? If your office has made a ruling on the commercial aspects of this particular parade would you please provide a copy urgently?

2) As a large proportion of the population find this parade morally repugnant, can you please explain your acceptance of the presence of the parade in terms of the rules of Parliament? If your office has made a ruling on the moral or legal aspects of this particular parade would you please provide a copy urgently?

3) Our organisation requests you authorise us to advertise and sell commercial product in the grounds of Parliament. We request this on the basis that if it is permitted for Mr Crow it must permitted for everyone, or Parliament may be in breach of the Commerce Act. Can you please confirm that we can use a location at the base of the steps of Parliament, as will be used by Mr Crow? If the Speaker seeks to impose any limitations on the nature of the business we intend to operate in the grounds of Parliament can you please advise urgently?

Yours Sincerely,

Bruce Tichbon - Families Apart Require Equality (FARE)

ENDS

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