Greens plough ahead with marriage bill
Despite not sealing a deal with the Labor Party over a conscience vote on gay marriage, the Greens have vowed to push ahead, announcing they will introduce legislation on the first day of the new Parliament.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young today reassured people that the Greens’ commitment to marriage equality was “rock-solid”, and said she would re-introduce a new Marriage Equality Bill on the first day of Parliament and push for a conscience vote.
“The fact that an agreement could not be reached with the Labor Party on equal marriage and other Greens policy priorities does not preclude the Greens from continuing to promote these issues,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“In fact the agreement expressly notes this.
“The Greens are the only party in the Parliament with a commitment to delivering equal marriage rights for all, and we will push for this in the next parliamentary term, regardless of who forms Government.”
Hanson-Young said it was clear throughout the election campaign that there was genuine community consensus that gay and lesbian couples should have the right to marry.
“I will re-introduce my Marriage Equality Bill on the first day of the new Parliament, and will continue to pressure both sides of politics to grant their members a conscience vote on this important issue.”
