Majority On Property Relations Bill Slimming

Wednesday, 22 November 2000, 10:15 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

Three Labour MPs voted against the inclusion of defacto relationships in the Property Relations Bill last night with the crucial vote passing by a majority of just four.

In a conscience vote on the inclusion of defacto relationships under the provisions of the controversial bill Labour MPs Geoff Braybrooke, Janet Mackey and Dover Samuels voted against the bill promoted by Attorney General Margaret Wilson.

All other MPs voted along party lines with NZ First, National, United Future NZ and ACT voting against the provision, and Labour, Alliance and Green MPs voting in favour. The final vote was 62 in favour to 58 against a majority of just four votes.

Under a conscience vote MPs are free to vote as their conscience directs them.

A later vote held on the inclusion of same-sex relationships in the bill saw several National MPs including Jenny Shipley and Tony Ryall voting in favour and the vote passed 74 votes to 39.

Explaining her decision Mrs Shipley said that it would have been inconsistent to oppose the inclusion of same-sex relationships in the bill once Parliament had already approved the inclusion of defacto relationships.

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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