Hope Abbott will allow free vote
Marriage equality advocates have not given up on hopes that Opposition leader Tony Abbott might allow Coalition MPs a conscience vote on same-sex marriage, despite Abbott all but ruling it out.
Speaking on Sky News this morning Abbott said, although the issue would be discussed in the party room, before the last election the Coalition had promised not to amend the Marriage Act.
“It was the clear policy of the Coalition at the election that marriage was between a man and a woman,” Abbott told Sky News today.
“Every single member of the Coalition was elected on that position and I don’t think we can break faith with the electorate.”
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convenor Alex Greenwich said he remains optimistic that a free vote on both sides of Parliament is still possible.
“We remain hopeful that Mr Abbott and the Coalition will allow a conscience vote on marriage equality when a bill comes before Parliament next year, because this is an issue that continues to win hearts and minds,” Greenwich said.
Several Coalition MPs have publicly stated they would support a conscience vote, including Malcolm Turnbull, Russell Broadbent, Barnaby Joyce and Simon Birmingham.
“Allowing MPs a conscience vote is the mature way to avoid further tension within Coalition ranks,” Greenwich said.
A Galaxy poll, commissioned by AME, released this month showed 80 percent, including 76 percent of Coalition voters, supported Abbott allowing Coalition MPs a conscience vote on marriage equality.
A Nielsen poll, also released this week, however, showed support for marriage equality had dipped slightly in the past month, mainly losing ground among Coalition voters.
The poll showed same-sex marriage had fallen five percentage points to 57 percent, compared with a similar poll last month.
Voters, however, overwhelmingly agreed (81 percent) that all MPs should be allowed to vote according to their conscience.
At its National Conference this month, the Labor Party voted to change its party platform to support same-sex marriage. However, it also supported a move to allow Labor MPs a conscience vote.
Labor backbencher Stephen Jones has declared he will table a private member’s bill, which will be supported by the Greens, to reverse Australia’s ban on same-sex marriage when Parliament sits next year.
Owen: hahahahaha
we want same sex marriage to be made legal – not compulsory.
I love the way straight (mostly) men think that the only thing holding men back from being gay is society’s disapproval. That if there was equality, straight men would turn gay.
sigh….if only…
Torchwood, yes true, only “according” to wikipedia because its never accurate and not even a ten year invention whereas the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman has been going strong for thousands of years. Where do you think we as individuals come from? we wouldnt have a world population of 7 billion people today if we gave into Gay marriages. Its what keeps the axis turning.
ED: Hmmm, plenty of people around the globe having babies without getting married Owen.
Owen,
According to wikipedia its 3-4%. Besides most Aussies support this and I think it should be put to a referendum if it fails this time.
Also, please do not troll on this site, it is a pro-gay site. If you want to post anti-gay comments go to godhatesfags.com or the Christian lobby website.
Owen,
You are a fool. Yes Mt. Abbott is entitled to his opinion, but so too are the overwhelming majority of Australians. Did you even read this article? It is apparent that slightly more than 1% of Australians want this change.
Marriage has not been this way for thousands of years. Perhaps you can try really hard and cast your mind back 60 years when interracial marriages were banned.
You would do well to note that just even if something has been so for a prolonged duration does not mean that it is fair and just.
any opinion poll is never accurate and probably based on only a few hundred people participating in the poll. I do beleive that in a democratic society Tony Abbott is entitled to his opinion. Marriage has always traditionally been between a man and a woman. Only 1% of the population want to change something thats been around for thousands of years.