Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott flagged the possibility of putting a decision on same-sex marriage to the Australian public following the next election, after his conservative coalition government blocked its members from voting in favour of gay marriage.
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MARRIAGE equality advocates have cautiously welcomed a breakthrough in Canberra today after a Liberal party room meeting reportedly saw the issue of a conscience vote raised, leading to the announcement of a special joint Coalition party room meeting to decide on it.
Mr Entsch had co-sponsored a cross-party bill for marriage equality, which Mr Abbott said should instead be discussed in the combined Liberal-National party room meeting.
Opposition frontbencher Jason Clare told the AFP news agency that if the Australian people wanted marriage equality, “they are going to have to divorce Tony Abbott at the next election”.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who favours same sex marriage, says a free vote is “consistent with Liberal Party tradition”.
It followed a bill to legalise same-sex marriage being formally tabled in Parliament on Monday by Liberal MP Warren Enstch.
But by thwarting a free vote in the Parliament, Abbott could very well be grasping at straws amidst discord within his own party.
Abbott, acknowledging the country’s public opinion (more than 70 percent support gay marriage in polls), is suggesting a national referendum after next year’s elections.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for a referendum, which by the way will cost tens of millions of dollars, I think Mr Abbott just needs to move with the times”, Mr Shorten said. In England and Scotland, in New Zealand and France, throughout Scandinavia, and in Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and more, the people and their parliaments have overturned marriage laws that discriminated against same-sex couples.
“Frankly, I’m surprised at why some in the government are so obsessed about stopping marriage equality”, Mr Shorten told Channel Seven.
Di Natale also pointed out the message of exclusion and discrimination the PM was presenting to the nation’s young LGBTI people with his decision to not allow a free vote.
Labor has dismissed as “nonsense” government suggestions that a constitutional referendum could be used to settle the question of same-sex marriage.
“We must keep global warming to no more than two degrees”.
When asked whether he thought there was enough support for a free vote, he responded, “I never contemplate defeat so there is no chance”.
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“We urge supporters of marriage equality in parliament to press ahead with legislation in both houses and we urge Coalition members to be courageous and cross the floor”.
