Gillard makes last minute appeal
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has acknowledged the Labor Party platform will most likely change to support same-sex marriage in a vote at tomorrow’s National Conference, according to news reports.
The Australian newspaper claims Gillard has met with factional leaders today to appeal for support for a conscience vote on the issue, knowing the numbers are not there to prevent a change in party policy.
Earlier today ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said they believed the party platform would change to allow same-sex marriage.
“I think a majority of conference delegates will determine that it is appropriate that we have marriage equality, that we recognise that relationships are legitimate regardless of the sexuality of those people engaged with them and that by giving one group of the community equal rights, we’re not actually taking away rights from any other section of the community,” Albanese told ABC Radio this morning.
A number of members from Labor’s Right faction have indicated they will vote in favour of changing the party platform.
Gillard is said to have sought last minute assurances from the Party’s Right wing today to support her call for a conscience vote on the issue when a Bill is voted on in parliament.
Earlier today lobby group GetUp! and the Australian Marriage Equality presented a pro-marriage equality petition of 140,285 signatures to Finance Minister Penny Wong to submit to the conference, currently being held in Sydney.
Inside the party, Rainbow Labor has lead the charge with calls to change the ALP’s platform calling for the Party to,”amend the Marriage Act to ensure equal access to marriage under statute for all couples irrespective of sex who have a mutual commitment to a shared life”.
The statement, to be voted on tomorrow, also goes on to say the amendments would not obligate a minister of religion to solemnise same-sex marriages.
Some Labor MPs have threatened to cross the floor of parliament if they are required to vote for same-sex marriage along party lines.
Protesters on both sides of the fence will take to the streets tomorrow.
Community Action Against Homophobia co-convenor Ben Cooper predicted thousands would rally in favour of same-sex marriage.
“We are expecting thousands of people to descend on the convention centre to send a clear message to the ALP that the ALP must pass marriage equality legislation in the federal parliament,” he told the Star Observer.
“The time for marriage equality is now. For too long same-sex couples are denied this basic right and we encourage the community to along and show their support.”
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today said it didn’t trust claims that churches would not be forced to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.
“Supposed protections for the church have not worked overseas and particularly offer no protection to the exercise of freedom of conscience by individual Christians” ACL spokesman Jim Wallace said.
Gillard is a complete hypocrit, and nowhere else does her hypocrisy show, than in he pursuit of power, simply for the sake of power and the patronage that comes with it. She will do anything, say anything, support anything and believe in anything if it helps her to cling to power.
“God, what a hypocrite she is”
Well, yes, but that comes with the territory for Socialist Forum members.
We’re talking about people who took half a century to work out that all was not sweetness and light in the Soviet Union, after all. You can’t expect that type to have both intelligence and principles!
its a bout bloody time they make same sex marriage legal! They have a right to b happy to an to celebrate the love they have an share for each other!
God, what a hypocrite she is.
Rusty, shocking news – you dont need to marry to have kids!
Worse news – the law already alllows gays and lesbians to adopt!
Worst of all – the word you are looking for is “debauched” not ‘debourched’. Reading a homosexual newspaper or knowing gay people means you should know that word.
Sure as hell I’m pleased I had a balanced up bringing with a mother and father. My kids too have a mother and father and they are very happy. Kids need a parent of both sexes. So these same sex people are happy to chance kids lives by not giving them a parent of both sexes? One more step to a debourched society.
I don’t dislike homosexuals at all, I know quite a few of them. However to let them change what marriage means and then have children (one way or another) and pretend they are average everyday normal parents is a recipe for disaster for the children.
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If Julia and the right-wing factional hacks who support her — like the vile homophobe Joe De Bruyn who insults his own SDA members every time he opens his nasty selfish unrepresentative mouth on this issue — are in favour of a conscience vote on the floor of the parliament, why are they demanding a vote along factional lines at the Labor conference?
This issue has been polluted with dirty hypocritical right-wing manoeuvring from start to finish. Those involved will ultimately be on the wrong side of history, to their utter discredit, and ought to hang their heads in shame, not parade their disgusting intolerance as if it were a sacrosanct virtue that trumps the ordinary civil rights of their fellow Australians.
So basically, SHE who has wedged herself on this issue, has asked factional back room dealers to support a conscience vote only so she can save face. Nice Jools, nice… just ignore public support for the removal of discrimination and ignore your own party’s core values of equity and fairness for ALL Australians just to save your ego being bruised. That’s not leadership, it’s a cop out.
EVERYONE MUST SHOW TOMORROW!!!!! SATURDAY 12:00 Hyde Park for the marriage rally…. it will be a momentous occasion !!!