Donnelly supporting civil unions after all

New Zealand First MP Brian Donnelly is back to supporting legislation covering civil unions.

Mr Donnelly said yesterday he had withdrawn his support. But today he told NZPA he had based that decision on an incorrect briefing about changes made to the bill during the select committee process.

He said yesterday the change made to the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill by the justice select committee meant same-sex de facto couples would continue to get higher benefit payments than heterosexual de facto couples.

The bill was reported back by the committee last week, and since then it has passed its second reading in Parliament on a 74-45 vote.

As originally drafted, it put same-sex and heterosexual couples under the same welfare rules after two years.

Mr Donnelly understood the committee had decided to put a loose definition on de facto, and let the Law Commission decide how to deal with difficult issues like property rights and welfare rules.

But he now understands that change was shelved and the welfare aspects to the bill have been left as originally drafted.

He got some wrong information from the office of a minister and when he consulted NZ First MP Dail Jones, who is a member of the select committee, there was a misunderstanding about exactly what Mr Donnelly was asking, the MP said.

Mr Donnelly said he had since clarified the facts with Labour MP Tim Barnett, who chairs the select committee.

"We make mistakes and everything else but as long as I get it right in the third reading," he said.

The bill, which puts a legal framework around civil unions, is expected to pass its final third reading stage next week.

- NZPA