Peters hints at binding referendum

NZ First leader Winston Peters has hinted that his party may support the Government’s abortion changes only if they go to a binding referendum.

This last-minute positioning – after months of negotiation with Labour – has angered Justice Minister Andrew Little, who said any such position would be completely new to him.

Peters yesterday refused to clarify how his party would vote on the bill, which is up for its first reading tomorrow, or whether it would be a party-position or up to individual MPs.

NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell had suggested to media that the way NZ First considered the issue should go to the public.

‘‘We’re working through it. It’s something NZ First believes should probably be a binding referendum issue,’’ Mitchell said.

Peters backed this position but did not fully endorse it, simply telling media the party’s position would be clear by tomorrow.

‘‘This is an ongoing discussion, and the vote is on Thursday, and we’ll let you know,’’ Peters said.

This was a huge shift from what NZ First MP and negotiator on the issue Tracey Martin had said previously.

Little said that through months of negotiations with NZ First, a referendum had never come up.

‘‘It’s a bit unusual that it gets raised at this point when we’ve got the bill drafted as a result of the consultations we’ve had with them, but look, that’s on them,’’ Little said.

‘‘In all the extensive discussions I’ve had it’s never been raised.’’

The Government on Monday unveiled its long-planned bill to decriminalise abortion, which currently sits in the Crimes Act.