NSW Parliament calls on Canberra to grant Coalition conscience vote on marriage equality
Image: NSW Parliament House (Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna; Star Observer)
NSW Coalition MPs have today sent a pointed message to their Canberra colleagues by backing a motion urging the federal Coalition to allow a free vote in any upcoming marriage equality debate.
The motion, put forward by Sydney state independent MP Alex Greenwich and backed by Liberal MPs Bruce Notley-Smith and Lee Evans, Labor MP Jo Haylen and Greens MP Jenny Leong, asks that federal MPs be “free to express their own view and the views of their electorates on marriage equality”.
In recent months, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has suggested that Liberal MPs – who are currently mandated to vote against marriage equality – might be allowed to follow their conscience should a bill be forthcoming.
However, despite their currently being three marriage equality bills in play – one each from the Greens and Labor and one from NSW Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm – the issue has yet to be even discussed in the Liberal’s Canberra party room.
Liberal supporters of marriage equality, such as City of Sydney councillor Christine Forster, have said only a cross-party marriage equality bill is likely to win support.
According to a 2014 poll for Australian Marriage Equality (AME) 75 per cent of people in NSW support marriage equality.
Greenwich said his motion was an effort to stop the Federal Government from “delaying the inevitable”.
“The Liberal Party claims to be the party of ‘individual freedom’ and a free vote should be its default position on this issue,” he said.
“We must stop showing disrespect to the institution of marriage, which should be about love and commitment and not discrimination.”
Greenwich noted that NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird, while opposed to marriage equality, does support a free vote on the issue.
“It shows a great maturity in leadership to allow your party members the ability to express a different view than yours,” Greenwich said.
“It’s time the Prime Minister showed that maturity and allowed the growing number of Coalition supporters of marriage equality the ability to vote for reform.”
While backing the motion, Leong of the Greens’ said: “We don’t need a free vote because when it comes to equality, every vote, every time, [the Greens] will vote for equality.”
The Liberal’s Notley-Smith said for the people of NSW, “this issue is no longer an issue” and people just wanted politicians to get on and pass marriage equality.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said the motion increased pressure on Tony Abbott.
“The NSW Legislative Assembly is the first Coalition-dominated chamber in Australia to send the Federal Coalition the message that it’s time for a marriage equality free vote.”
Meanwhile, AME has lashed out at plans to give Tasmanian school children a booklet advocating against marriage equality.
Yesterday, Hobart Archbishop Julian Porteous said 12,000 copies of a publication entitled Don’t Mess with Marriage will be given to school children at Catholic schools in the state, according to Channel 9.
However, Croome said the booklet could fall foul of anti-discrimination law: “The Catholic Church has every right to express its views from the pulpit but it is completely inappropriate to enlist young people as the couriers of its prejudice.”
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Ring Ring, Ring Ring… Hello this is Canberra, we want marriage equality back!
I was at a party the other day and I said I want to build a time machine to go back in time when Tony Abbotts parents just met – and I said “quick put this condom on for Australia’s sake!”
Tony Abbott is minister of women, gee wiz he must be a cunt!
You can’t get a sex change, you are a big enough cunt as it is!
Tony Abbott bring back in knights and drams, what next giving Rupert Murdock the title of emperor of Australia (god help us)?
Australia – along with Northern Ireland, Malta, Isle Of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Falkland islands still do not have marriage equality. All of these places will have marriage equality within the next 5 years! I am sure of this… The US will have marriage equality in 3 days time on Monday – by a big SCOTUS decision!
Members of the LNP are aliens from deep in the earths core! That sort of explains the reason why marriage equality is still banned, until the year 2024 within Australia! John Howard must of had a secret ASIO clause that was censored black – within the Marriage Amendment Act 2004, that said “this shall not be repealed until the year 2024”!
Tony Abbott belongs on Jupiter!
Still waiting for the big and huge SCOTUS decision in the US on marriage equality any day or time now…!
NSW parliament or any other Australian state/territory parliament have no power on the marriage legislation called the Marriage Act 1961 – it is a FEDERAL responsibility, under section 51 of the Australian Constitution powers on marriage! The Australian Constitution DOES NOT define marriage, but does say that the Australian federal parliament has the power to “make laws” on marriage. The US state of Hawaii also has that too and already has marriage equality! The Australian High Court said this back in 2013, when the ACT Legislature passed the law – but failed to keep marriage equality law there and 39 couples got “annulled” (automatic divorce) by the Australian High Court 72 hours later!
It is a start, but we are still “debating” and “talking” about marriage equality – while the rest of the western world just passes it! What about the NSW upper house too? Oh that’s right Fred Nile asshole is in charge there! Marriage equality will never ever happen in Australia under a LNP government – dictated by Tony Abbott/Cory Bernardi the stupid bigoted moron cunts! Vote 1 Greens!