ACL pressures Libs on marriage

The Australian Christian Lobby is urging its members to pressure Liberal Party politicians to keep their party line on marriage and not allow a conscience vote.

The warning comes after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott revealed the party room had the power to reconsider the issue of a conscience vote in the future despite his own opposition to marriage equality.

“Those seeking to redefine marriage are stepping up their pressure on Liberal MPs to water down Liberal Party policy,” a statement on the ACL website read.

“A feature of the Coalition’s integrity on the marriage issue has been its steadfastness in ensuring it had a team policy about marriage.

“It is appropriate that a major political party holds a party policy (as opposed to allowing a conscience vote) on marriage because of the adverse consequences for children, freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”

Last month, two of the opposition leader’s daughters revealed their support for marriage equality to News Limited.

Frances Abbott, 21, said she hoped that by the time her generation got into power that something was done about marriage equality and gay rights.

Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer also announced her support for gay marriage last month.

O’Dwyer said at the time the Coalition had not debated what their policy on marriage would be for the upcoming election.

The Higgins MP said she had been lobbied by marriage equality advocates for some time.

Australian Marriage Equality has been focusing its efforts on certain electorates, including Higgins, in order to reverse opposing positions on the issue.

AME national director Rodney Croome has said the Coalition’s stance against a conscience vote was costing them votes.

“Mr Abbott’s decision to rule out a conscience vote will cost the Coalition votes, particularly from young people who see this as a signature issue,” Croome said.

“The decision will be particularly costly to Liberal candidates in inner-city seats who support marriage equality but won’t be able to vote for it if they are elected.

“These include sitting members like Malcolm Turnbull and Kelly O’Dwyer and challengers like Kevin Ekendahl in Melbourne Ports and Sean O’Connor in Sydney.”

The ACL encouraged its members living in Liberal federal electorates to contact their local MP to ask them to support the party’s current position on marriage.