Member of Parliament and Minister
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1981–84 | 40th | Wellington Central | Labour | |
| 1984–87 | 41st | Wellington Central | Labour | |
| 1987–90 | 42nd | Wellington Central | Labour | |
| 1990–92 | 43rd | Wellington Central | Labour | |
Wilde was a Member of Parliament for the Wellington Central seat, winning it from sitting National MP Ken Comber in the 1981 general election. Wilde retained the seat at the subsequent 1984 general election.
In 1985, Wilde moved what became the Homosexual Law Reform Act (1986), which legalised homosexual acts in New Zealand between consenting men. The 16-month debate about the bill polarised the country, and sparked violent demonstrations and angry rallies at Parliament. Her other main legislative achievement in Parliament was an Adoption Reform Act, which made it possible for adopted people and their birth-parents to contact each other.
Wilde was Parliamentary Whip from 1984 to 1987, and became Minister of Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Disarmament during Labour's second term.
Read more about this topic: Fran Wilde
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