MEDIA RELEASE
CAMPAIGN AGAINST CIVIL UNION BILL
WEBSITE www.civil-unions.org

Spokesperson Garnet Milne
On behalf of National Executive Committee.

Media Release

21 November 2004

''A National Campaign is underway against the Civil Union Bill via the website www.civil-unions.orgthat has just been launched,'' says campaign spokesperson Garnet Milne.

"The website was notified to the public in a Radio Rhema report last week. Already over 70,000 campaign information brochures have been printed, following orders, and delivered throughout the country to letter boxes, churches and community organisations."

Mr Milne says: "We have been overwhelmed by the volume of orders for brochures which are supplied free of charge or can be ordered for $30 per 1,000. The website highlights the fact that the media has deliberately ignored the strength of opposition to this bill and its companion bill the Relationship (Statutory References) Bill. Of the 6,170 written submissions received by the Justice & Electoral Committee considering the Civil Union Bill, 95.5% (5,892) were totally opposed to it. Many of these were made by organisations with hundreds of members and some with thousands (e.g. churches). Only 278 submissions were received in favour of the bill. If the government ignores the massive opposition to these bills, it does so to its own peril", Milne said.

Mr Garnet Milne, a Minister in the Reformed churches of NZ, presented a submission against the bills to the Justice and Electoral Commttee earlier this year on behalf of his churches.

"The website," he says, "contains articles outlining the strong case against the Civil Union Bill and its companion bill and seeks to encourage people to communicate their concerns and opposition to the bills with MPs."

ENDS

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