Eric Abetz says “same-sex marriage is not a human right” in wild Senate speech

Eric Abetz says “same-sex marriage is not a human right” in wild Senate speech
Image: Eric Abetz. Image: Facebook.

Debate over marriage equality legislation is continuing in the Senate this week, and anti-SSM conservatives in the Upper House – especially Eric Abetz – are putting in last-ditch efforts to argue against a change to the Marriage Act.

In a rollercoaster speech, Senator Abetz claimed that “same-sex marriage is not a human right” in the same way that religious freedoms and marriage between a man and a woman are.

The Liberal senator for Tasmania also railed against “gender fluidity” and “the gender agenda”, and suggested that trans, intersex and non-binary people should be excluded by same-sex marriage legislation.

Abetz claimed that “the media and the celebrities were relentless” and that Yes supporters are now “feeling betrayed” because his colleague Dean Smith’s legislation is not what they voted for, despite Smith’s bill being clearly outlined during the postal survey period.

“No voters are good, decent Australians. They voted for fairness,” he said.

“The substantial No vote of 38.4% cannot be arrogantly dismissed as of no consequence.”

Abetz took time in his speech to thank Lyle Shelton, “the tradie” from a No campaign ad, and Israel Folau, among others, for joining him in resisting the tide of change.

He also argued that polls shouldn’t be the determinant of moral standards, saying, “It’s only dead fish who go with the flow. It’s only the live fish who have the capacity to swim against the current.”

Earlier in the day, ACT Senator and fellow Liberal Zed Seselja made his own speech discussing opinion polls.

Seselja argued that because polls indicated the outcome of the postal survey and showed concern about protections for religious freedoms, which the Yes campaign says are present in Dean’s Smith legislation, that they should be taken into account.

Presumably in much the same way that years upon years of polls showing majority support for marriage equality were taken into account and thus legislated, without a costly postal survey held in between.

Last week, former Senator Jacqui Lambie made similar comments to Abetz’s about distress suffered by No voters, claiming that they are “hurting right now.”

Speeches discussing the marriage equality legislation and proposing amendments are continuing in the Senate despite the House of Representatives sitting being canceled this week.

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8 responses to “Eric Abetz says “same-sex marriage is not a human right” in wild Senate speech”

  1. Well it’s no surprise that Turnbull felt he had to move Abetz to the back bench. Abetz is not appreciated in Tasmania but he believes this is on ideological grounds, in fact he is viewed as some sort of nutter. Last election he achieved the highest below the line vote in the state ie. a protest vote. He objects to being called a homophobe, HA, HA, HA.

  2. Poor old Erica – he was the one who voted against de- criminalising gay people in Tasmania all those years ago and then kept fighting it for all he was worth until the death knock. In short if he had his way he would stick the lot of us in concentration camps. Considering he came from Germany originally I would love to ask him if he ever asked his father “What did you do in the war Daddy?” :)

  3. I have been very tolerant of the “no” campaign despite the lies, misdirection and plain out bigotry the’ve displayed during the survey time period. After hearing the little troll Abetz and his slanderous at best comments enough is enough. This very poor excuse of a human does not deserve to be in parliament.
    This troll and people like him should have no rights. The’ve denied the rights of others with their twisted views on religion and the way of the world. Even as a hetrosexual male I am so angry that this homophobic bigot finds that he has the moral right to deny others theirs. If this man and his cohorts feel so strongly about his convictions then rack off to the kiddy fiddlers in the Vatican and don’t come back!

  4. It seems strange to me that during the totally unnecessary postal survey, we “Poor Precious Petals” were advised by the conservation religious supporters, by Matt Canavan to “grow a spine”.
    This was so they could retain the right of religious “freedom”
    Shame that Marriage in this country is a purely CIVIL Matter.

    What about the separation of the State and Church??

    Pity the Abetz cannot make a reasonable statement, I heard the debate in the Senate, he was shameful. ( as usual)

    Perhaps they all need to grow a spine??

  5. If some no voters are hurting now as good Christians I trust you will find it in your hearts to forgive me when I say good you should be. But the trashed you is that you are hurting for yourselves when in fact in charity you should be hurting as a result of the hurt you caused not for a few days weeks or even months but for the years and years you and your churches hurt, oppressed and vilified us at every opportunity even to the point where your predecessors demanded we go to prison for the crime of falling in love. So yes feel hurt by all means just don’t ask me to forgive you because it isn’t going happen anytime soon.

  6. Good article. Sucked in conservative senators, if these are the outcomes you wanted you’d have achieved them by supporting marriage equality from the outset rather than declaring all this “too important for politicians” and handing over the decision a landslide Yes result. The UK Tories didn’t have this embarrassing bickering because they kept control of the process and avoided a plebiscite, but you were too stupid to follow your English colleagues’ lead. Suck it up now, it’s your own fault and there’s no sympathy from me.