Election 2026: National’s Christopher Luxon, Paul Goldsmith blame ‘packed agenda’ for no quick change to sexual consent law
New Zealand's National Party government is delaying updates to sexual consent laws, citing a busy legislative agenda. Opposition parties argue the government is prioritizing other policies over a necessary legal modernization that would clarify that silence does not constitute consent.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the tension between legislative prioritization and social reform, specifically regarding how legal definitions of consent impact public safety and justice.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is blaming a “very packed agenda” for not progressing sexual consent changes this term, as he instead pushes through move-on orders and other legislation.
The hold-up is being called a “traffic management issue” by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who repeatedly stressed the “very full legislative agenda” of the Government ahead of Parliament rising in two months’ time.
Labour’s justice spokeswoman Camilla Belich says it’s a matter of priorities for the Government and it was “a shame” and “disappointing” that National has made it an election policy, rather than working with other parties to make the change sooner.
National announced on Sunday that, should it be re-elected, it would modernise sexual consent laws to “specify that consent must be actively given, meaning there must be a ‘yes’ rather than the absence of a ‘no.’” That affirmation could be communication by words or actions.
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