GEORGINA BEYER (Labour-Wairarapa): It is a privilege to rise to speak to the second reading of the Civil Union Bill. I will begin by congratulating Tim Barnett and the select committee, and indeed all the submitters. I also acknowledge respectfully those arguments from both sides of the fence on this matter. It is never easy in Parliament when we have to deal with these serious and thought provoking, conscience provoking, issues.

I support this bill unequivocally. I support this bill because I believe that many thousands of New Zealanders, not just those in same-sex relationships, but over 300,000 other New Zealanders, will benefit from the choice of having a civil union. Unfortunately, in this day and age, marriage itself is exclusive to a man and a woman and that is the way it will remain under this legislation-untouched. The only perception of danger to the institution of marriage in my opinion arises in the minds and morals of those who do not have the same respect for those of us who may live differently, in de facto relationships, and also those of us who happen to be in same-sex relationships.

I believe that I live in a society where law-abiding, taxpaying, contributing citizens of this country can and should demand equality in the eyes of the law in all aspects of that society. This is no more or less than we are asking for with the Civil Union Bill-for the sake of enhancing the lives of New Zealanders, not for destroying the institution of marriage, which we stand here in this House today to acknowledge and respect for what it is.

But I cannot live in a country that has treated me personally, and many others like me, with great civil liberties, but that says: "No, you remain a second-class citizen in this country if you wish to solemnise your relationship. You cannot marry." With the Civil Union Bill and its partnership bill the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill we can remedy this situation for many thousands of New Zealanders.

I think the moral right fundamentalists have betrayed their argument in purporting to uphold family values and the rights of New Zealanders to live as men and women as, apparently, God created. Life is not like that in modern New Zealand. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive society; a society that happily shows to the world that we are diverse and that we take the benefit of that diversity and accept the wonderful accolades we receive for it. I am very fortunate to be one of those rarities in the world, in a parliamentary sense, who enjoys that respect from people.

We are asking of New Zealanders and the members of this Parliament today to make the right decision as they believe it to be. I believe that the right decision is to support this bill through its second reading, so that it may proceed through its Committee stage and, hopefully, a third reading.

I will also remind parties in this House that the junior branches of some of these parties, including the Labour Party, the National Party, the ACT party, and the Progressive Party, support this. They went public yesterday jointly-almost without precedent. They are showing far more maturity about dealing with this matter than some of us in here are doing between the parties. I urge the National Party and I urge the ACT party-I do not need to urge the Progressives and the Labour Party-to listen to their young people. They are the future and they have spoken strongly and loudly on this matter. They believe the Civil Union Bill should pass through. They want to get on with their lives, just as the New Zealanders whom we are discussing in this matter today want to get on with theirs.

I cannot accept the devaluing of the families of same-sex couples that has been done throughout the debate nationally and within this House during the course of discussion of the Civil Union Bill. We hold the same values as any other family in this country that has heterosexual parents. I will not accept that the children of same-sex couples go to school today and get questioned about the value of the family from which they come. It is as vital and as valuable as any heterosexual family in this country. We, as a Parliament, must support those families, those children-the products of those strong relationships-and give them confidence that they do live in a country that is fair, reasonable, and that treats people with respect and equality in the eyes of the law.

I believe it is very little to ask, with regard to the Civil Union Bill in its second reading, for people to look to the compassionate side of themselves, to think from a humanitarian base, to join other countries in the world, and to respect the opinions of some of our young who say that we should support the Civil Union Bill. With that, I implore members of the House who may still be deciding which way they wish to vote to please vote in favour for the sake of a positive future for all New Zealanders, not just some of us.