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PM: marriage ‘a reform whose time has come’

By on February 22, 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard reportedly believes same-sex marriage is a ‘reform whose time has come”.

Three couples – one each from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria – last night joined the PM and partner Tim Mathieson for dinner at The Lodge.

Australia Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich said the dinner was positive.

“The Prime Minister listened carefully to the case for equality and gave us all hope when she said the reform would happen one day,” Greenwich said after the meal.

Last year grassroots campaign group GetUp! successfully bid $31,000 for the intimate dinner with Gillard as part of the Canberra Press Gallery’s Midwinter Charity Ball.

Marriage equality advocates used the opportunity to break bread with the Prime Minister to put forward their case to legalise gay marriage.

Victorian couple John and Steve, who live in Gillard’s Lalor electorate said they, “shared with the Prime Minister that this reform was widely supported within her own electorate of Lalor”.

“The Prime Minister made the point that the more countries that embrace this reform, the clearer it becomes that this is a reform whose time has come,” Sydney couple Sany and Lou said.

“Although she said she opposed marriage equality, we were given hope that her opposition was not immovable,” Brisbane couple Sharon and Elaine added.

Greenwich said everyone at the dinner, including the PM, agreed the Opposition should allow a free vote.

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3 Comments

  1. Stuart Baanstra

    February 22, 2012 at 10:34 am


    They bought that one? Reforms will happen “one day”? Sounds like they were gob-smacked by a celebrity with red hair!

  2. davo

    February 23, 2012 at 2:09 pm


    nah, just trying to justify the $31,000 bar tab :-)

    She may not go right away, but Rudd, or someone else, will challenge successfully before the election because she can not beat Abbott. Then Abbott will go because he can’t beat anyone except Gillard. Fun times a coming in Canberra.

  3. Phillip

    February 24, 2012 at 8:01 pm


    I think we should give Julia Gillard and the labor government the benefit of the doubt. There’s more chance for gay marriage under Labor than there ever will be under a Abbott fascist Liberal government!

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