Brown Peter: Civil Union Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Brown Peter: Civil Union Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:622;Page:17614] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 We have had a very interesting debate over these last 2 days and one of the concerns I have—and I have listened to much of the debate—is that anybody who takes the opposing view to the Government on this bill dares to criticise the bill or dares to question it is labelled homophobic. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: I have never called you that. 
PETER BROWN 
: The former Minister says she has not but plenty of her colleagues have alluded to it. They have said that me and many of my colleagues are homophobic because we have some concerns about this bill. Let me put the record straight from my point of view. I went to sea as a young man well before the Homosexual Law Reform Bill came in. I sailed with many homosexual people and they got treated with the same respect regard and tolerance that anybody else on the ship received. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Did you deal to them with a broom like I’ve been told about? 
PETER BROWN 
: The former Minister is obsessed with broomsticks going—where? I have no experience in that. I will bow to the former Minister’s experience and knowledge on that matter. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: It’s not funny. It actually happened. 
PETER BROWN 
: I will not defend that sort of action one iota. I am well aware of homosexual people being quite open about their sexuality and well before the Homosexual Law Reform Bill came about. It was no secret on a ship. We were a small community. So I do not speak from a position of being homophobic at all. 
But I do have concerns about this bill. I have some major concerns. I have listened to the Government speakers over there and only one—only one whom I took note of—mentioned the possible concern about children and that was Georgina Beyer. Her views are actually the direct opposite from mine but she actually referred to the long-time concern about children. I think everybody in this Chamber knows that if this bill goes through we are one small step away—because we are talking about gay marriage in all but name—from whoever determines who adopts a child not being allowed to determine that it should go to what one might call natural parents over two homosexual men. 
Hon David Benson-Pope 
: A single person can now. Didn’t you hear what I said yesterday? 
PETER BROWN 
: That can happen now can it? 
Hon David Benson-Pope 
: Didn’t you hear what I said yesterday? It’s got nothing to do with it. 
PETER BROWN 
: The Minister says it has nothing to do with it but he knows that it is one step away. I say to the Minister and all members in this Chamber that if New Zealanders have their say on this bill and if they say that that is what they want there will be no argument from me—no argument at all. If the people sitting in the gallery now want it and vote for it there will be no argument from me at all. I will let them have their say and freely. I heard the Minister on  
Morning Report 
 saying that the principal reason I think from memory for this issue not going to a public referendum is that it would cost so much money. It would cost $10 million or something like that. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: It could go in at election time. 
PETER BROWN 
: Yes it could be held at election time. My honourable colleague’s amendment provides for the referendum to be held at election time. But I am saying that the money is not important. This legislation some people say will change the fabric of our society and I agree with them. I have been known to be wrong but I tend to subscribe to the view that this bill will change the fabric of society. But we should let New Zealanders decide whether it will do that and whether they want it. I am a total supporter of my colleague’s amendment calling for a referendum. 
I also share his view—which is contrary to that of my colleague Craig McNair—that if this issue went to a referendum the result would probably favour the bill’s supporters but I will not be arrogant enough to prejudge it. I think it would be close but I think New Zealanders would probably vote for this legislation at the end of the day. I am saying here that we should let New Zealanders decide. This is a key issue for New Zealanders. It will impact on our society. It will be a matter of controversial debate for years to come. If it were the subject of a referendum then pass or fail that would be the end of it—at least in the short term.