Can Tony say ‘YES’ ?
Four in five Australian’s want Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to grant Coalition MPs a conscience vote on marriage equality, according to a poll released today.
Over the weekend the Labor Party voted to change its party platform to allow for same-sex marriage, however, also supported a move to allow Labor MPs a conscience vote when the issue comes before parliament.
Without Coalition MPs allowed a free vote on the issue, any bill would likely fail.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has today released a Galaxy poll which shows 80 percent of respondents said they want Abbott to allow a conscience vote on the issue, including 76 percent of Coalition voters.
AME national convener Alex Greenwich said results overwhelmingly show voters want Coalition MPs to vote according to their conscience.
“[Voters] know it’s important for MPs who support reform to be able to express this in parliament, especially with such high support for equality across key Liberal seats,” Greenwich said.
“If Mr Abbott acts now to grant a conscience vote he will avoid the kind of divisions and ruptures that plagued Labor during its protracted internal debate on marriage equality.
“We hope that Mr Abbott will recognise that the momentum for marriage equality is unstoppable and by granting a conscience vote he will allow the coalition to play a part in this historic reform.”
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Greens want to co-sponsor a same-sex marriage bill to present to parliament in the new year and called for Abbott to allow his MPs a conscience vote.
“Tony Abbott has nothing to lose by giving his members a free vote on amending the Marriage Act,” Hanson-Young said.
“But if he continues to stand in the way of what most Australians believe is now inevitable, his MPs will have no other choice but to cross the floor if they are to listen to their electorates.
“Individual Liberal members have a proud history of crossing the floor on crucial votes. We in the Greens hope Mr Abbott will let his members stand up and vote freely to help defeat discrimination based on who a person loves.”
Grassroots lobby group Getup! is renewing its calls for public support to keep up public pressure on the issue.
To donate to the campaign, click HERE
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No.
Yes, let’s start to pressure local Coalition MP’s to push Abbott to publicly extend a ‘free’ vote to the Coalition MP’s and really display his Liberal (Party) principles. I intending saying in my email that I am not necessarily expecting them to support the legislation (although that would be great) but they should as Liberals push support for a conscience and free vote within their own ranks.
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At last, Labor has moved on SSM!
At this point, a conscience vote is the best option.
If Labor had a bloc vote in favour, Liberals would have a bloc vote against, so SSM would fail.
Now there will be a conscience vote in early 2012.
But let’s throw in a wrinkle.
The Greens should refuse to give preferences to candidates who do not support SSM.
This will counterbalance the Churches threat to campaign against MP’s supporting SSM.
I imagine the liberals would dump Tony and embrace gay marriage if it would get them into power – And I imagine labor would dump Julia to keep it – and of course the Greens have already benefited from their support – so we just have to figure out what we have the numbers to do – and do it.
I am so disappointed with Labor.
On the bright side, it was a lovely rally. I was really proud to be part of it.
I really think Tony Abbott must be true to the Liberal Party’s values – Liberal values and vote for marriage equality because that is the party’s ideology. To extend liberties. As there is no harm done by marriage equality, what is the good of it to keep discrimination? None.
The Liberal party was founded by Menzies on classically liberal principles such as the laws only be made to prevent harm.
If you agree Abbott should allow a conscience vote, or even get the party to adopt its ideology position (ironically) to extend liberties please join this Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abbott-allow-a-conscience-vote-on-marriage-equality/201667723248679
Tony Abbott’s loyalty is to Rome first, via that that hate-mongering, anti-Gay George Pell.
Abbott’s loyalty is not to Australia and it’s tax paying citizens, but to that old man in the Vatican. The one in a frock with a pointy hat and
and the pompous, Parada red shoes.
Could you imagine ‘The Prince Of Peace’ wearing those red shoes??
Tony is a hater.
When my partner was on a rotation to a country hospital, and this moron was Health Minister, he demanded a Marriage Certificate from us before we could have the same accommodation as others. The award is a Federal Award. He said we should go to the expense of paying for a hotel, while married couples could get accommodation for free. The story was covered in the GLBTI press at the time.
It took years of fighting this fruit loop to have the award changed. The Greens helped, so did the Dems- many tried to make this bastard honest but failed.
Abbott is trying to destroy the Liberal Party, and make it a branch of the far right section of the Catholic Church.
If this is what he is like when he has little bit of power, imagine when he has it all!
Abbott is trying to make us the new Stop the Boats, he has already called to stop our Civil Rights in many areas.