National Plays Politics With Consent Laws21 July 2026National has chosen to play politics with consent laws, objecting to Labour MP Camilla Belich’s attempt to introduce cross-party legislation that would make it clearer that consent is required before sex. “Today I sought leave to table a cross-party Bill in the House to update New Zealand’s consent laws and National objected to it,” Labour Justice spokesperson Camilla Belich said. It makes it clearer under the law that consent is necessary before sex every time, rather than assuming it has been given. Survivors and victims of sexual violence don’t need political grandstanding, they need action. If National can find time for move-on orders, it can find time to fix our consent laws," Camilla Belich said.