Referendum needed on marriage bill, says Sabin
Northland MP Mike Sabin would rather see a national referendum held than have individual MPs vote on changes to the marriage laws.
Mr Sabin said he did not believe the mood of the country could be accurately represented by 121 parliamentarians, many of whom had not been elected and do not represent an electorate.
Mr Sabin said he was not surprised the Marriage Amendment Bill easily passed at its second reading last Wednesday, albeit with four fewer National Party MP votes than it received in the first round.
He added: "I see it as a matter in which the indicative mood of the country may not be accurately represented in the conscious (sic) vote of 121 parliamentarians."
A resounding 77 MPs gave the second green light to the controversial bill that would allow gay couples to marry rather than be limited to the rights and recognition afforded by civil union status.
Mr Sabin said that while he favoured the status quo, the Civil Union Act, he voted for the Supplementary Order Paper calling for a referendum at the next elections. That supplementary move was well defeated by 83 to 33 votes.
Of Northland's three MPs, National's Phil Heatley (Whangarei) and Mr Sabin (Northland) were among the 44 who voted against the bill, while Te Tai Tokerau MP and Mana Party leader Hone Harawira voted for it.
The bill is likely to return for the committee stage at the end of this month.
