Vanstone urges Abbott rethink
Former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of stifling internal party debate on the issue of same-sex marriage.
In the opinion piece published in The Age online today, Vanstone said Abbott should also allow Coalition MPs a free vote when a bill calling for the legalisation of gay marriage comes before Parliament.
“One of the things that really aggravates members of Parliament is when a leader announces, through the media, a decision that has been made after Parliament has risen,” Vanstone said.
“As there is no party-room meeting over the break, the leader’s announcement and policy position gets all the airplay and permeates the public mind. MPs who disagree with the decision rightly see the timing as a tactic to weaken them
“…He should say he will look at the issue if and when it comes to Parliament. And he should give the party room the conscience vote that should never have been given away.”
Vanstone said Abbott’s decision to refuse Coalition MPs a conscience vote goes against Liberal Party tradition.
“The Liberal Party prides itself on the right of members to follow their conscience,” Vanstone said.
“It is a cherished Liberal principle.
“….It looks, smells and walks like a leader deliberately shutting the party room out of a decision. MPs will not warm to it.”
“Homosexuals challenge orthodoxy” Tony Abbott.
“ I feel threatened by gays” Tony Abbott.
“Homosexuals are not part of the Natural Order of things” Tony Abbott.
Why is this imbecile still leader? I blame Labor for not dumping Gillard.
I believe Amanda Vanstone is right, Abbott has stressed he will take Australia to an extreme position on “Women’s Rights”, and “Gay Rights”. He has already deliberately shut down party discussion, and taken a baseball bat to his party’s core values. As Health Minister, his own party, in the most extraordinary move in the history of the Liberal Party, had to pass legislation on the drug RU486, as he was crippled by the Vatican- as Minister he could not follow his legislation.
Julia Gillard is unelectable, but if they replace her, Gillard style, then I am certain the Liberal Party will greatly regret Tony Abbott ever being a party member, let alone leader. People like conservative Bible Bashers as much as Optus telemarketers while eating dinner. The trouble for the Liberal Party is Abbott is not a leader, it is just Gillard is terrible. When Abbott was Health Minister, he demanded a Marriage Certificate from my partner and I, when my partner was due for a forced rotation to a country hospital. This was covered by the gay press at the time. The medical award was Federal. The result was my partner had to quit his internship. The country hospital was down one doctor, and no doubt people waited longer in pain in emergency. If Abbott can be a mongrel Health Minister, then what will happen when he has power? As Health Minister in the dying days of his government, he wanted studies on sex on site venues, with a view to shutting them down. That is where it starts, bit by bit he would close all “Gay Venues” if he could. You simply cannot understatement the hate Abbott has for people he does not feel “Comfortable” about. When he had power, he used it against us. Even Malcolm Turnbull cannot mention if he supports Marriage Equality, such is the power of Abbott to implement his agenda of hate. Turnbull will just go along with it. Remember the only thing he crossed the floor over was a Carbon Tax.
The tent embassy showed Abbott starts a brawl then runs. If this is the mess he causes as Opposition Leader, then imagine Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
http://www.news.com.au/national/tony-abbott-gay-people-challenge-right-order-of-things/story-e6frfkvr-1225838477260
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdqklZ7-eu8&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL8B7B26E5DCCABE41
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkE7ek1TVZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPmpswEJ-sg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABtlI2Wk3Ws&feature=related