Politics blog: May 6 - 12
NZ First proposes toilet law, with a new toilet use offence
NZ First has entered a bill that would police how toilets are used in New Zealand.
NZ First leader Winston Peters said he wanted to stop a "growing trend of mixed-sex toilet spaces".
The bill, which was being introduced as a private members' bill by NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich, would create an offence for people caught using a toilet who "is not of the sex for which that toilet has been designated".
The offence would likely target the transgender community, restricting which toilets they could use.
The 'Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill' would also include new requirements on public buildings to have three different types of toilet facilities: Male bathrooms, female bathrooms, and fully enclosed unisex toilets.
The bill immediately drew criticism from Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who said it was “just absolutely ridiculous”.
NZ First leader Winston Peters said he wanted to stop a "growing trend of mixed-sex toilet spaces".
The bill, which was being introduced as a private members' bill by NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich, would create an offence for people caught using a toilet who "is not of the sex for which that toilet has been designated".
The offence would likely target the transgender community, restricting which toilets they could use.
The 'Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill' would also include new requirements on public buildings to have three different types of toilet facilities: Male bathrooms, female bathrooms, and fully enclosed unisex toilets.
The bill immediately drew criticism from Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who said it was “just absolutely ridiculous”.
“The country has bigger issues to worry about then Winston Peters’ homophobia or transphobia," he said.
Peters, in the statement, said his party had campaigned on defending “the right to privacy, personal safety, and freedom from harm for all New Zealanders”.
Those bill proposed a fine up to $2000 for the toilet use offence:
"Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $2000 who uses a single-sex
toilet and is not of the sex for which that toilet has been designated," a draft of the bill said.
There would be a defense against prosecution if the person had "reasonable grounds for using the single-sex toilet".
Those bill proposed a fine up to $2000 for the toilet use offence:
"Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $2000 who uses a single-sex
toilet and is not of the sex for which that toilet has been designated," a draft of the bill said.
There would be a defense against prosecution if the person had "reasonable grounds for using the single-sex toilet".