Another ALP branch backs marriage
The ALP Federal Electorate Council for Warringah has voted unanimously in favour of marriage equality and has called on the Government to introduce legislation of its own to legalise same-sex marriage.
Warringah Federal Electorate Council spokesman Daniel Sharp said the council saw the denial of same-sex marriage as an ongoing form of discrimination towards a sizable proportion of society -a stance which it views as an “untenable and unjustifiable situation in contemporary Australia.”
“This is a commonsense reform that builds on the Labor Government’s achievements to-date in removing much of the legal discrimination which had faced same gender couples prior to Labor’s election to government,” Sharp said.
“Labor has a proud history of breaking down social barriers and is the only progressive party which has the ability to implement these reforms. It’s time that we addressed this issue in the current parliament, before it’s too late.”
The federal Warrigah MP, Opposition leader Tony Abbott, this week refused to be drawn on whether his electorate supports or opposes marriage equality.
Abbott’s seat on Sydney’s Northern Beaches takes in Manly, which has an active LGBTI social group, and Warringah Council which considered establishing a relationship registry for same-sex couples in 2010.
But when asked by media about the level of support in the electorate, Abbott dodged the question and stated his personal opposition on the issue.
“My view has always been that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Abbott said, “I accept that not everyone agrees with me on this and constituents are welcome to make contact with my office about this issue.”
Abbott did not take part in the recent report back to Parliament organised by Greens MP Adam Bandt and this is the first time he has invited constituents to share their views with him on the issue.
Sharp said Abbott’s vocal opposition on the issue was one of the motivating factors in the council passing the motion, and they feared for what might happen for same-sex couples were an Abbott Coalition government elected.
“We all know Mr Abbott is opposed to removing this form of blatant discrimination towards same gender couples and, true to form, he is likely to vote no in any vote on the issue,” Sharp said.
“As a result, it is imperative that the Gillard Government legislates for this reform as soon as possible.”
The Star Observer revealed last year that Abbott abstained from voting on a motion condemning police violence against participants in the first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978 while on the Sydney University student representative council, and then voted against the motion being passed on to the then NSW Government.
The ten grand went to charity, not to Julia. Rob, if you want to support Abbott over Gillard on his shining record for support for same sex marriage then go ahead. For all the reasons Dave has outlined for us, you’ll be waiting a very long time … I am no great fan of the ALP right now, but I support anyone for the PM’s job over Tony Abbott.
At least Abbott freely met with representatives of AME in Canberra.
AME, with the help of GetUp, had to pay $10,000 to sit down with Gillard .. has that happened yet?
[…] Full Story from the Star Observer […]
Gillard is a shocker! Tony Abbott is a Catholic! How long before Australian citizens start rioting?
Tony Abbott, demanded a Marriage Certificate from my partner and I, when my partner was on forced secondment to a remote country hospital working as a junior doctor. At the time it was covered by the GLBTI press. The Medical Award was Federal. We were expected to pay for hotels, unlike those who could produce a Marriage Certificate-their accommodation was free. As a Health Minister, Tony Abbott put his love of George Pell, and his extremist Catholic ideology, ahead of us, and many good Catholics. An act of Parliament had to be passed as he would not allow the RU486 drug to be sold. Once this was done, he personally pursued the company that made this drug, trying to stop them selling other drugs –even though these other drugs had nothing to do with abortion.
During the final months of the Howard Government, Tony Abbott was trying to get some epidemiology studies on HIV, with a view to shutting down sex on site venues. Thankfully he lost the election. Whatever you think of these venues, the odyssey against us, our way of life, will not be stopped once the last sex on site venue closes, the reach would engulf bars and clubs.
Tony Abbott lied about secret meetings with George Pell when question by Tony Jones on Lateline. He ducked and dodged, and finally when confronted with the evidence, admitted he made mistake about what he just said. And for a Catholic, Tony applauded an angry mob who paraded a coffin with the name Julia Gillard. He menaced wildly, while Kevin Andrews gleefully applauded another angry mob of Christian Fundamentalist in the Great Hall of Parliament. Penny Wong was told she is Evil, and her unborn child is just wrong. Gay Marriage, the speaker said the roar of the crowd, was about having sex with children. This is what homosexuals really want, and so Bob Katter got up and accused us of theft of the English Language. George Pell once wrote Greens are political poison, but I have never heard him question Tony Abbott, or lay responsibility for the menace, inciting hate. No. But I have seen Catholic Diocese, use their tax exempt position, to rally the faithful to vote against the Greens and Labor in flyers and newsletters.
Putting Kevin Andrews on the front bench, as the shadow Minister for Families, is an insult to all Australians, especially the unborn. I have to ask what policies will Kevin, and Tony, implement, in their round table discussions with George Pell? Tony Abbott is refusing to even consult with his electorate on Marriage, and dodge questions, so after a meeting with George Pell, what policies will Kevin and Tony Abbott develop to fight “The Greatest Evil” I might well ask. If Tony, could not govern for all Australians as a Health Minister, when he has real power, how far down the rabbit hole will Tony Abbott take Australia? All the way to Hell I think.
Shit Happens Tony Abbott, get over it.