Day 51

Six ICC candidates responded to the Free Speech Union Questionnaire.
I thought you might like to see this copied here.
The full questions were -

IN PRINCIPLE, DO YOU SUPPORT FREEDOM OF SPEECH (AS IN THE FREEDOM TO PROFESS
ANY IDEA WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING PROSECUTED OR UNDULY PUNISHED)?

DO YOU SUPPORT THE EXTENSION OF ‘HATE SPEECH’ LAWS IN NEW ZEALAND AS
PROPOSED BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE?

HAVE YOU EVER, OR WOULD YOU, LODGE A CODE OF CONDUCT COMPLAINT AGAINST
ANOTHER COUNCILLOR FOR SPEECH THAT YOU DISAGREED WITH?

WOULD YOU ALLOW TERFS (TRANS-EXCLUSIONARY RADICAL FEMINISTS) TO BOOK AND
SPEAK IN COUNCIL CONTROLLED MEETING ROOMS?

WOULD YOU ALLOW FOR GROUPS ADVOCATING EITHER FOR OR OPPOSED TO ABORTION ON DEMAND TO BOOK AND SPEAK IN COUNCIL CONTROLLED MEETING ROOMS?

WOULD YOU ALLOW DRAG QUEENS TO HOLD ‘STORY TIME’ EVENTS IN COUNCIL
CONTROLLED LIBRARIES?

WOULD YOU ALLOW GROUPS EITHER FOR OR OPPOSED TO CO-GOVERNANCE OR MĀORI
WARDS TO BOOK AND SPEAK IN COUNCIL CONTROLLED VENUES?

Terry King

Are you a Free Speech union member?
No

Support freedom of speech?
I support freedom of speech as a democratic right

Support extension of "hate speech" laws?

[blank]

Would lodge a code of conduct complaint?
No

Would allow TERF events?
Yes

Would allow events around abortion debate?
Yes

Would allow drag queen 'story times'?
Yes

Would allow events around co-governance and Maori wards debate?

Yes

General comments
My answer is yes to all of the above as long as it is respectful and without any personal agenda. It is always good to hear different perspectives to allow the elected members to understand the rationale. The underlying point in all this is being respectful and being there to voice your views to provide clarity on the why.

Kevin Mulrooney

Are you a Free Speech union member?
No

Support freedom of speech?
Yes as long as others aren't abused or ridiculed

Support extension of "hate speech" laws?
Yes

Would lodge a code of conduct complaint?
Depends how serious it was

Would allow TERF events?
no

Would allow events around abortion debate?
Yes

Would allow drag queen 'story times'?
Yes

Would allow events around co-governance and Maori wards debate?
Yes

General comments
Do TERF's shame others or bully/ridicule them into their way of thinking?


Noel. J. Peterson

Are you a Free Speech union member?
No

Support freedom of speech?
Yes

Support extension of "hate speech" laws?
Undecided - need more detail - opposed to hate & bullying.

Would lodge a code of conduct complaint?
No

Would allow TERF events?
Currently not my call - no issues with anyone speaking.

Would allow events around abortion debate?
Currently not my call - no issues with anyone speaking.

Would allow drag queen 'story times'?
Currently not my call - but no issue with anyone reading.

Would allow events around co-governance and Maori wards debate?
Currently not my call - no issue with anyone speaking.

General comments
Free speech is something I stand up for, though some forms of hate and bullying are an exception.


Malcolm Loan

Are you a Free Speech union member?
No

Support freedom of speech?
Yes

Support extension of "hate speech" laws?
No

Would lodge a code of conduct complaint?
No, only if the statement is untrue or defamatory

Would allow TERF events?
Probably - I don't know this group

Would allow events around abortion debate?
Yes

Would allow drag queen 'story times'?
Probably

Would allow events around co-governance and Maori wards debate?
Yes

General comments
I have been cautious with two of my answers. I have no concern with meetings where subject matter is advertised, and for people you freely attend. Where children may attend, parents should have the opportunity to decide whether it is appropriate for their children to attend.

 

 

Nobby Clark

Are you a Free Speech union member?
No

Support freedom of speech?
Yes - so long as it does not involve hate speech

Support extension of "hate speech" laws?
Yes

Would lodge a code of conduct complaint?
No

Would allow TERF events?
Yes - everyone has a right to free speech

Would allow events around abortion debate?
Yes - we have hall and meeting spaces for hire

Would allow drag queen 'story times'?
Yes

Would allow events around co-governance and Maori wards debate?
Yes

General comments
All groups in our society have a voice and we should not supress thst by way of witholfing access to facilities. We hsve strughled with antivax factions who want to promote their message as council and government havr oppoding messages.


Jacqueline Walter

Are you a Free Speech union member?
No

Support freedom of speech?
Yes, unequivocally, so long as this is free from threats to physically kill or physically maim.

Support extension of "hate speech" laws?
NO

Would lodge a code of conduct complaint?
As an 'outsider' presently I am advising my community about bullying from one of their elected leaders. As an elected leader, no, I would not lodge a complaint if it's only words against me.

Would allow TERF events?
Of course, yes, if these spaces are generally available for public bookings.

Would allow events around abortion debate?

Of course, yes, if these spaces are generally available for public bookings.

Would allow drag queen 'story times'?

Yes, and I would always attend as a matter of priority.

Would allow events around co-governance and Maori wards debate?
Of course, yes, if these spaces are generally available for public bookings.

General comments
Let's move forward with common sense.

 

 
[My detailed explanation about story time by drag queens is in Day 40 #3]

[Do you see that Terry King favours his own personal agendas, (that is, his life and his livelihood is more important than any one else, no matter what the issue) even if there is a remote possibility that he's listening to better ideas than his own. Perhaps an even greater indication of sinister, lazy and cowardly Group Think here is that he wouldn't even speak up using his own mind if he - as a civic leader! - were confronted with a situation where the ideas being pushed were worse than his own. That is - he wouldn't lift a finger to ensure safety and prosperity for future generations. Being one of the important "elected members" would always be enough for his personal comfort, no matter what else goes on with society and no matter if his and his contemporaries emotional retardation is causing us to lose our democracy. How old is he?]

[Kevin Mulrooney is afraid that a few women might put up a useful argument.]

[And I point out again that Nobby advocates for more hate speech laws.]

[I'll leave dear Noel out of this, this time.]