Abbott supports gay anti-discrimination legislation
LISTEN HERE: http://www.cpod.org.au/media/3340.mp3
Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott says he would “in principle” support federal anti-discrimination legislation which covers sexuality and gender diversity.
Abbott was interviewed by Doug Pollard on Melbourne GLBTI radio station JOY94.9 this morning.
“If [anti-discrimination] law is there, I would be very happy to look at it,” he said.
“I guess we would want to scrutinise it to ensure it didn’t have any unintended consequences, we’d want to be sure that it would in practice work out for the best, because so many well-intentioned laws can have obnoxious consequences.
“Having done all of that, I could see no reason why we couldn’t support it.”
Abbott later said, “In principle I would support it.”
Abbott was also pressed on comments he made in a recent 60 Minutes interview that he felt “threatened” by the homosexuality. He said it was a “poor choice of words.”
“In a television interview, you sometimes come out with things that if you were considering your words more carefully, you wouldn’t say,” he said.
“Don’t forget, I’m a 52-year-old bloke from a traditional background. I’ve had orthodox Catholic teachings in my youth, and it takes time… to come to a more balanced and nuanced understanding of these things.
“I have a number of gay people who are very close to me, and without wanting to pretend that I am perfect, and that I will never again be guilty of sensitivity crimes, I do think that I am pretty good at taking people as I find them.”
In the interview, Abbott indicated he was still opposed to gay marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples, however said he would support a national relationship recognition scheme.
Troy I’d like to believe there is hope..but for me the liberal leapard does not change its spots.
I’m reminded of 1996, the eve of Mardi Gra, John Howard was elected into Government. He motivated our community with the promise of change, he said he
Troy I’d like to believe there is hope..but for me the liberal leapard does not change its spots.
I’m reminded of 1996, the eve of Mardi Gra, John Howard was elected into Government. He motivated our community with the promise of change, he said he… See more
I guess I can only go on his track record as Health Minister. A Marriage Certificate was demanded of my partner if we were to have accommodation in remote hospitals. Doctors are forced to go to these areas for up to 6 months. We were asked to stay in a hotel at our own expense just because we were homosexual.
Mr Abbott never returned letters, phone calls, and the Greens had to fight him for the Federal Award to be changed. When it counted Mr Abbott could do something for us, but he did not.
I listened to the interview but did not hear any promises to fix things, just look at it.
That said Kevin Rudd is not talking about even looking at it. Kevin Rudd is offering a flat nothing at the moment. At least Mr Abbott talked on our community radio. Credit to him for doing that!
One night twenty-three years ago, when I was 14 years old, I was sitting with my father (now deceased) watching the television news when they reported on a kiss-in protest held on the steps of Parliament of Victoria