Media Release 11 October 2020
Right to Life is concerned that the Hon Phil Twyford, the MP for Te Atatu, with the support of the Prime Minister, Hon. Jacinda Ardern, has sought to challenge the right of free speech of Alfred Ngaro, the National candidate for Te Atatu. He was asking members of his electorate if these are the values that you want in Parliament? The Minister is claiming that a statement made by Alfred Ngaro on his Facebook account was “a gross piece of misinformation.” “It has more in common with the fake news of the American religious right than the way we do politics in New Zealand.”
The killing of unborn children is a human rights issue not a religious issue. It is deplorable that the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is quoted by One News as condemning the factual statement of Alfred Ngaro as,” blatant misinformation.”
The statement on Facebook said that the Hon Phil Twyford supported full term abortion and abortion based on gender and disability. The Minister is angry that Alfred Ngaro is asking the members of his electorate of Te Atatu if your local MP should represent the values of the people?
The electorate have a right to know how their elected MPs vote in Parliament. Alfred Ngaro is providing a service to his community by reminding them how their elected member has failed to protect women and the unborn child by supporting this extreme abortion legislation and rejecting amendments to protect them. The position of the Minister on these important issues is a matter of public record, it is not fake news.
Right to Life believes that Alfred Ngaro was justified in believing that the Hon Phil Twyford supported these appalling values as he had voted on the 17 March 2020 against these amendments to the Abortion Legislation Bill that allows abortions up to birth that would have:-
· Prohibited abortions after 20 weeks except in extreme circumstances to protect the life or health of the mother.
· Prohibited abortions on the grounds of sex selection.
· Prohibited abortions after 20 weeks for babies diagnosed with a disability including Down syndrome.
Hansard is the official record of Parliament, it is not fake news and records these votes by the Minister. Hansard also records that the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and thirty-six of her caucus voted for this anti-life and anti-feminist Abortion Legislation Act, with only nine voting against the bill.
The Hon Phil Twyford also voted against amendments that would have:-
· Provided appropriate care to any child born alive in an abortion.
· Required pain relief being given to a child being aborted after 20 weeks.
· Provided increased legal protection for women and their unborn child.
Right to Life is very concerned that Newshub which reported this attack on free speech by Minister Twyford and which is at the service of the community, did not uphold the right of free speech of Alfred Ngaro.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life
Authorised by Paul Ives, 22C McBratneys Road, Christchurch