24 November 2004

The Campaign against Civil Unions www.civil-unions.org

Nasty Threats from a Human Rights Review Tribunal Appointee

The Campaign Against the Civil Union and Relationship Bills has received the following nasty threatening communication from Ms Jacquie Grant a newly appointed member of the Human Rights Tribunal. Spelling and poor grammar aside, we appreciate that she will have a different view than we have on this proposed legislation, but we were not prepared for the invective contained in her email message in which she identifies herself as a “Jacquie Grant MNZM, Member Human Rights Commission Review Panel”

What is especially sinister is the threat “Rest assured you will be taken to task at every opportunity for hate crime”. The Campaign committee and our legal advisors have interpreted this as threat of legal action against our website on the basis that the dissemination of its contents constitutes a “hate crime”.

Perhaps Ms Grant has received a tip-off from the Labour-led government that proposed “hate speech” legislation, being considered presently by a parliamentary select committee, will indeed be enacted into law and be used to shut down all opponents to the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships Bill?

Either way, Jacque Grant has demonstrated that she lacks the impartiality required to be making judgements about human rights by issuing threats against Christians and accusing us of “hate crime”, when our chief desire is to: (1) promote the biblical teaching on marriage, (2) promote sound legislation that upholds good morals and is in the “public good”, (3) provide robust and rational arguments against these Bills which constitute social engineering and (4) warn New Zealanders of the dire consequences of granting state-sanction in law to immoral lifestyle choices.

The Christian Gospel is the Good News found in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He calls all people to repent of all sin, including all forms of sexual immorality that destroys human relationships, and come to Christ and experience the compassionate forgiveness of our Triune God.

The committee fails to see how Ms Grant can remain on the Tribunal in her statutory role as one entrusted with the task of showing impartiality and fairness, when she has already disclosed her hand as one who has a sinister agenda of bais against those opposing the Civil Union Bill and Relationship Bill. This matter has been referred to an MP with legal expertise and our own lawyer. The committee has forwarded a formal complaint to the Human Rights Review Tribunal over this matter.

The full text of Jacquie Grant’s threatening e-mail to our webmaster, sent after viewing our site, is contained below:

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: letter for your site if you dare Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 11:20:37 + 1300 From: Jacquie Grant “. To: “

After reading your hate site I make the following comments.

I have raised over 70 children as a foster parent for CYPS some for most of their lives None have ever turned out GAY. All have had an improvement in their lives. A large number are now married and functioning members of society. A good number attended christian [sic] churches of different demoninations [sic] with my support and blessing. By the way I am a Transexual woman by your definition I used to be a man. Prostitutes can only function when there are clients FACT most clients are married men undoubtably [sic] a lot would describe themselves as Christian, it is easy to deflect issues away from onesself [sic] when trying to cover up my suggestion is you people examine your own back yards first. I will debate these issues with you anywhere anytime but I think you are basically cowardly people and I do not expect to have that opportunity soon. Rest assured you will be taken to task at every opportunity for hate crime.

Jacquie Grant MNZM Member Human Rights Commission Review Panel

Appendix:

The membership of the Human Rights Review Tribunal consists of the following persons:
Mr RDC Hindle - Chairperson.
Mr GJA Kerr.
Mr E Daly.
Hon J Elworthy.
Ms PJ Davies.
Ms D Clapshaw.
Mr S Perese.
Ms J Binns.
Ms J Grant.
Dr W McKean.
Ms S Ineson.
Dr A Trlin.
Mr A Hall.
Mr S Solomon.
Dr I Vodanovich.
Ms Trudie McNaughton.

The final nine persons on the list including Ms J. Grant were appointed to the panel on 9 November 2004. The other 6 were already on the panel
[Information supplied by Ministry of Justice on 12 November 2004:

Human Rights Review Tribunal (formerly Complaints Review Tribunal) http://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/

The Human Rights Review Tribunal has a Chairperson, who must be a barrister or solicitor of the High Court of not less than seven years' practice, and who sits with two members appointed from a panel consisting of not more than 20 members. It hears proceedings brought by the Human Rights Commission or Race Relations Conciliator or any aggrieved person for breaches of certain provisions of the Human Rights Act 1993. Those breaches may relate to discrimination by reason of sex, marital status, religious or ethical beliefs. Proceedings may also be brought by the Privacy Commissioner pursuant to the Privacy Act 1993 and the Health and Disability Commissioner pursuant to the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1990

Further News Reports

OPENLY TRANSEXUAL 61-YEAR OLD 'GRANNY' APPOINTED BY LABOUR-LED GOVERNMENT TO SIT ON HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW TRIBUNAL Friday, November 12, 2004 http://www.gaynz.com/news/default.asp?dismode=article&artid=1928

TRANSSEXUAL ELECTED NEW ZEALAND COUNTY COUNCILLOR By Rex Wockner
International News Reports http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/world/041398wo.htm

ENDS

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