Backflip would boost PM
A backflip on same-sex marriage by Prime Minister Julia Gillard would boost her in the polls, PR and media crisis management company Harry M Miller Group CEO Lauren Miller Cilento told the Star Observer.
“Legalising same-sex marriage is something people really care about – it’s about human rights, it’s about equality. It is actually a game-changer, so I don’t think anybody is really going to care if she backflips on it,” Cilento said.
“Half her Cabinet, I believe, already support it.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re changing your mind if you’re making the right, wise and informed decision.”
Cilento made the comments following an appearance on ABC TV’s Gruen Planet where she told host Wil Anderson that if there was one thing Gillard could do to reconnect with voters it was to legalise same-sex marriage.
“I think what she needs to do, for the Australian stage and the international stage, is legalise gay marriage,” Cilento told Anderson.
“If she says, ‘I’ve looked at this wrong, I’m prepared to backflip, and I’m going to lead my party into a new era,’ then she’s immediately on the world stage as a leader who’s stood up and I think that ticks a few boxes in her spin, branding, position, and future voters. I think that’s a biggie.”
I’m fed-up with listening to Gillard and freaky Abbott. Fourth rate politicians! Neither have Australia’s interest at heart.
Have decided to live in all of Asia. Muslim countries are not on my list though. Australia is not the country I once loved.
We must keep up the pressure. Tell as many people as possible about the December 3rd rally in Sydney during Labor’s national conference. Also get the following message out: NO to a conscience vote. We demand a binding vote for all Labor MPs in support of marriage equality.
It isn’t going to happen. This is closer than we’ve come, but this wave won’t be enough.
But until gay men change their attitude – and their culture – how can we honestly say we’ve done anything much at all? More people turn up to a dance party than a protest. This wave has been totally a heterosexual push. It’s time we pushed our own rights a little harder, and found ways of being heard, and cared a little about how we are seen.
Mark,
Unfortunately there’s increasing news coverage speculating that the conference will call for a conscious vote in parliament rather than a party-binding one.
I have no doubt such a vote will be lost and it will be many years before we get another chance.
Forget about backflips – why can’t we have honesty, compassion and equality ?
I think she’ll hold out at least until the conference in December. Her hard stance has made it clear that the gay marriage campaigners will need to fight every step of the way. Once only the fundamentalist christian-right remains, then we might see a backflip.
The only people who care if she back flips on this issue are the christian fundamentalists – and she is catering to them – there is no other reason for her stance. She is all about the votes. With these kinds of poll results, she will probably come round.