No chance of gay marriage

A Rudd government will never consider same-sex marriage, but the Labor leader says he will remove all other forms of discrimination if elected.

My position -“ the party’s position -“ is it is between a man and a woman, Rudd told radio station Triple M when asked if he would ever consider gay marriage.

All other forms of same-sex discrimination should be removed. When it comes to these forms of discrimination we’ve just got to get past it.

The comments were a welcome relief for those who had called for the Labor leader to publicly support the HREOC recommendations. But it dashed hopes the proposed relationship registries would serve as a marriage stepping-stone.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Peter Furness said it was time the leaders of both major parties were pressured to justify their reasons for not supporting same-sex marriage.

They get asked their views, but never get pushed on why, he said. The reasons given are completely discriminatory.

As other countries push ahead and married same-sex couples come here it will become blatantly obvious that Australia’s position is based on bigotry.

Furness said the never ever attitude by the major party leaders demonstrated a lack of vision.

Politicians will eventually have to follow public opinion, he said. The majority of Australians support equal marriage rights.

Those supporters include Labor MPs who spoke against the 2004 Marriage Amendment Act, and rank and file party members.

We won’t stop until we have full equality, including marriage, Rainbow Labor spokesman Nick Wood said after state-based relationship registries were voted as party policy.

The registry would be based on the Tasmanian model -“ currently the most progressive in the country -“ but not enough to please those who want full recognition.

Despite Sunday’s protest march attended by hundreds from the gay and lesbian community calling for equal marriage rights, supporters among Labor’s line-up have been unwilling to break rank before the election.

When Greens Senator Kerry Nettle called for the implementation of the HREOC recommendations and equal marriage rights on Monday, Labor senators joined the Government in voting against the motion.

Rudd’s office did not return calls by press time.