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Supplementary Order Paper No 315

No 315

House of Representatives

Supplementary Order Paper

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Statutes Repeal Bill

Proposed amendment

Chris Hipkins, in Committee, to move the following amendment:

Schedule 1

In Schedule 1, Part 2, after the item relating to the Administration of Community Sentences and Orders Act 2013 (page 8, after line 9), insert:

Crimes Act 1961 (1961 No 43)

Section 123 and the cross heading above section 123.

Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper repeals section 123 of the Crimes Act 1961, thus removing blasphemous libel as an offence. This provision is anachronistic and has fallen into disuse. The overwhelming opinion of churches and religious groups is that faith does not need statutory protection of this kind. Amending the law in this way is a more efficient use of the House’s time than alternative approaches, such as a member’s bill.