Bennett David: Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bennett David: Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 27 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:9035. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 I want to take just a short call following on from my colleague Paul Goldsmith about the referendum issue. As somebody who is not married for anybody to get married I think is a great thing. I see both sides of the argument and am encouraged by anybody who wishes to follow that path. As an electorate MP we have had numerous correspondence and meetings with people on both sides of the debate on the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill and I understand the issues raised on both sides of the debate. I just want to thank everybody who has been part of that especially the proponents of the bill in this House for the way they have done that. I think they have done it in a very fair and open way and I would like to thank them for that and thank the members of the community who have shown their opinion. 
Outside this Parliament tonight we actually have people showing both sides of the argument. It becomes a question of whether we in this House should really be making this decision. It is my firm belief that this is a decision that we can all hold opinions on. Some of us may not have strong opinions. Some of us may not know exactly which way they should vote and it is going to be difficult to make a decision one way or the other. But I do believe that it is an issue that could go to the public. It is a situation on which the public could make up their own minds. It is not a situation where there are hidden issues that politicians have to understand and debate. It is not an issue that would be complex in the sense that it would be difficult to get the message out for the public. It is not an issue that you need a public petition to get the number of votes to set the referendum off. This Parliament can decide to have such a referendum. 
I disagree with the context that it has been said that a referendum would not be the right way of dealing with this issue. This is the particular issue that is the right thing for a referendum to deal with. This is the time that would be a particularly strong time for the public to do a referendum on this issue because there has been a very measured and developed public debate around this issue. I think we need to give the public their say on this issue. I do not know that we are elected to make this decision here today. I believe that we are here to debate this issue and I believe that we are here to put this issue in front of the public—and I commend those people who have done that—but I actually believe that it is up to the public to make that final decision at this stage. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: Be brave. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: Some members may say “Be brave.” Well I think it is being brave to actually accept that we in this House do not know everything to be able to say—[ 
Interruption 
]—no—to be able to say at some points in time that we need to listen to the people. That is what I implore the Committee to do. 
I personally do not have a strong opinion for or against this bill. I understand the arguments on both sides. Many people will make assumptions that you are either for or against it on the way that you vote but I do believe in the New Zealand public. I do believe in the sincerity of people to make a decision. I do not believe that the New Zealand public would make decisions based on preconceptions or would in any way want to hurt their fellow citizens. I believe that the New Zealand public can be trusted. They will take an open mind to this as politicians in this House have. If we can trust 120 of us to make that decision why can we not trust 4 million of us to make the same decision? What is the difference between us and the people outside? There is no difference. We are all New Zealanders. We should all have this decision. This is a perfect opportunity for a referendum. I support the New Zealand First Party in bringing that amendment forward and I look forward to this Committee voting that way. Thank you.