Mr Cobb rejected the suggestion that denying MPs a free vote on same-sex marriage was a denial of democracy, saying it would be impossible for any party to govern if it allowed MPs a free vote on all issues.
Advertisement
Following the drama, the deputy leader of the opposition Labor Party took a moment in Parliament not to lay into Mr Abbott – but to apologise to all the families who will continue to go without legal recognition because of politicians failing. “We don’t want to say it can’t ever be changed, and that this position in the party room today, that if there is a big change on the matter … it is something that will properly be decided by the people rather than voted on by parliament”.
NEVERTHELESS, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says voters will have a clear choice at the next election on the position of major parties on the issue. “No-one in party room was bullied by unions or someone else to express a view”.
Abbott’s Liberal Party and his right-wing coalition partner, the National Party of Australia, are against same-sex marriage, BBC noted. “There would be one or two votes in it either way”, he said.
Abbott said on ABC Radio Wednesday morning that the coalition had voted two to one to vote as a block against gay marriage, and if a minister can not support the party policy “that person has to leave the frontbench”.
Marriage equality campaigners have intensified their efforts in this parliamentary sitting fortnight, attempting to marshal support around the hashtag #WeCanDoThis ahead of the introduction of the cross-party bill.
“Our strong disposition, Mr Speaker, is to go into the next election with a commitment to put this to the people”, Mr Abbott told parliament.
Liberal MP Warren Entsch has flagged plans to introduce a cross-party private-members bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the country.
“The very people who want marriage equality to fail are the same people who are advocating for a plebiscite”.
“Obviously for us and for many Australians this is a really important thing”.
“I am not disappointed in this decision at all”, Mr Hogan said.
The tactical success over gay marriage could prove politically costly as Abbott struggles to keep his footing following a series of perceived gaffes and amid a sagging economy.
The move to block the “conscience vote” by the members of Parliament comes as the debate on same-sex marriage intensifies in what was once a traditionally conservative nation.
Advertisement
“Clearly, opponents of marriage equality in the Coalition know they don’t have the numbers on the floor of the House, or they wouldn’t be so scared of a free vote”, said Australian Marriage Equality National Director Rodney Croome.
