Turnbull seeks marriage views
Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull has become the first Liberal in federal Parliament to seek his constituents’ views in line with a Greens motion passed in the House of Representatives last November.
Turnbull added a special page to his website, inv
iting constituents to have their say in an electronic poll.
“It is very likely that later this year, the issue of same-sex marriage will be debated in federal Parliament,” Turnbull wrote.
“I have been canvassing the views of voters in Wentworth about the issue and this survey is another medium for my constituents to let me know their views.
“This survey is important as community views on marriage and the legal status of same-sex relationships are rapidly changing.”
All respondents in the survey will be cross-referenced against the electoral roll to ensure they live in Wentworth. Turnbull encouraged people living in other electorates to contact their local MPs to have their say.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convenor Alex Greenwich welcomed the Turnbull’s move.
“It is an excellent step that Malcolm Turnbull is doing this,” Greenwich said.
“I know firsthand that there are many people in the electorate of Wentworth who want a platform to express their support for marriage equality and it’s great that Mr Turnbull has provided them with that.
“This is one of the only chances that people in Wentworth — that’s areas like Potts Point, Bondi, Rushcutters Bay, Edgecliff, Paddington and parts of Darlinghurst — will have during the first half of this year to express their views to Mr Turnbull so they need to make sure they do this as a matter of urgency.”
Greenwich said it was a good sign that the first Liberal to move on the issue was a former Opposition leader.
“Malcolm Turnbull is a very influential person within Parliament and someone who has a lot of respect among a large segment of the membership of the Liberal Party.
“I have no doubt his poll will show massive support for marriage equality and hopefully it will result in us having a strong advocate in an influential position in the Liberals.”
Greenwich is confident others will follow Turnbull. AME will meet with a range of Coalition MPs next week.
The AME campaign to get marriage equality supporters to meet with their MPs also continues.
“Kelly O’Dwyer, in the Victorian seat of Higgins, is one Liberal who has had meetings with constituents who’ve completed the webform on the AME website. They have expressed their views to her and she is taking them on board,” Greenwich said.
Thank you very much, this is just what I have recently been looking for and a good Internet search uncovered your website and therefore here I am.
i contacted my member and he essentially brushed me off, stating that ‘his mind has already been made up’ i assume this means he will attempt to speak ‘as’ the people not ‘for’ the people…i’m very much for the legalisation of LGBT marriage, i’ve been given the impression that he is not and is clearly an ignorant asshole, i mean ignorant as he seems to be ignoring public opinion and speaking for himself simply ‘assuming’ he knows what ‘we’ want
It is worth remembering the “survey” is not open or scientific. It cannot be tested like any other poll. It represents the opinion only of the politician and they can push any agenda they like.
If polls found that the majority of Australians supported the Marriage Act, the AME would say we’d need to change it anyway. So if Australians poll the other way, its a bit hypocritical for the AME to say we have to bring in Gay Marriage.
The Liberal and Labor Parties of Australia are in their death throws. They are totally corrupted and massaged by Wacky, Fundamentalist America, The Australian Christian Coalition, sent down the Dunny path by the UN and totally in the grip of Developers and other self interest groups including themselves.
It is right that the Greens and Independents have chained them to the STOP SIGN. Enough already!
I wouldn’t give them another chance. They don’t, and are unable to represent our almost out of control, teenage Australia.
Look at them all with their grasping hands and greedy pockets.
George Pell, desperately trying to Establish Papal-Bull authority here and funding for his faith schools.
Tony Abbott in his old world, Double Breasted Suit with the Joan Crawford, padded shoulders.
I cringe when that woman speaks. The streaky red hair, and bossy, wooden voice.
Australians want equality before the law NOW.
A fair share of our Gay taxes and marriage equality.
I am amazed that a basic human right to be expected by law abiding tax paying gay citizens needs to be debated?! wtf!! Just do the right thing and abide by UN obligations on human rights.Pass the bloody law like parliament managed to change it in 2004. Did Malcolm Turnbull have 2 ask the entire country their views on whether he should marry Lucy? What in god’s name is wrong with these ppl. The utter hypocrasy of it all.
I’m a married mother of three boys. If any of them happen to be gay, I would hope they would have the opportunity to enjoy the highs and lows and stability of a marriage as much as their parents have been able to (We’ve been married 27 years.)
I wrote to my local member and expressed my opinions on why we should have marriage equality and he basically dismissed me with his own opinion of his 50s view of a ‘family’.
I am an elderly male who, up until the last election, has always voted Labour but disillusionment with Labours recent platform on gay rights enticed me to vote for the Greens. The prospect of voting for the Liberals, who have shown elements of racism and bigotry over the years, has never entered my head. But, I would be tempted to vote for this fellow if ever he leads the opposition again. Something tells me that we have an honest man here
Peter Adelaide