Labor clarifies position on marriage referendum
THE Australian Labor Party sparked confusion on Monday after they voted in favour of a motion investigating a referendum on marriage equality, but have since clarified their position in opposition to such a referendum.
The motion came from Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan and proposed a referendum to define marriage as between a man and a woman and to confirm marriage as solely the legislative domain of the federal parliament.
Despite Labor’s support, the motion failed with the opposition of the Coalition and the Greens.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young expressed surprise at Labor’s vote of support during the parliamentary session, stating:
“Can I just clarify that the Labor Party just voted with Senator Madigan on that motion? That is what I would like clarification about.”
When she received clarification that they did indeed vote in favour, Hanson-Young said simply: “Wow!”
In a statement to the Star Observer on Tuesday in response to a request for clarification of Labor’s position on a marriage referendum, Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the vote was linked to a party policy around parliamentary procedure.
“As a matter of Senate practice, while in opposition Labor supports non-government referrals to senate committees. Supporting the use of senate processes by non-government senators does not indicate support by Labor for the policy in that referral,” he said.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that Labor does not support any measures to investigate or develop a referendum for amendment of the constitution in relation to marriage laws. Labor opposes a referendum on same-sex marriage.”
A referendum on marriage is widely opposed by marriage equality advocates.
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Shame bloggers didn’t read the important part from Shadow AG Dreyfus:-
“I want to make it absolutely clear that Labor does not support any measures to investigate or develop a referendum for amendment of the constitution in relation to marriage laws.
Labor opposes a referendum on same-sex marriage.”
Read the second paragraph. Read again.
But Labor voted with the DLP, in support of this. I can only judge a party by their actions. The DLP is not exactly a but plug for Labor.
*Sigh* Read just two paragraphs:
“…while in opposition Labor supports non-government referrals to senate committees…
Now comes the important bit:
“… Supporting the use of senate processes, by non-government senators, does not indicate support by Labor for the policy in that referral”
And then, (sorry, yet more reading) the really important bit:
“Labor opposes a referendum on same-sex marriage”
A lot more helpful/reassuring than a glib tweet using the word “butt-plug”
Surely not Labor supporting discrimination, again. I thought the new buz word was democracy. It would appear the thugs from the SDA Union still hold the balls of Labor. In rural seats in Victoria, the far right is stripping local pro equality candidates and putting in far right Catholic men from Melbourne. This sordid mess is happening in Gippsland, and the North East of Victoria.
But what do we expect from a party that ever gave Gillard power. The same Gillard who hated marriage equality because of her feminist beliefs, but did not deny marriage for straight folk.
It looks to me like not a lot has changed in Labor, with same rosary strangling notions of equal treatment, with the same union thugs.
I must go and find the dictionary that has that definition of “clarify” in it, as well as the phrase “to make something absolutely clear”. I must have old publications, because they say something quite different than the usage by Mr Dreyfus and within the headline of the article.
Right. That was clear as mud, Mr Dreyfus. Labor should concern itself less with obscure ritualism in the Senate and more with the signals that their choices send to the broader public. Parts of the LGBTI community already feel dudded by the Rudd-Gillard failure to legislate for marriage equality when they had the chance. Giving off mixed messages now will only add fuel to the fires of skepticism and mistrust which of course will be exploited by the opponents of marriage justice and equality.