Pratt calls out Abbott
WA Labor Senator Louise Pratt has questioned why federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has allowed MPs to speak their minds on some issues and not on marriage equality.
Pratt seized on the comments made by Liberal backbencher Alex Hawke who publicly criticised the Coalition’s paid parent leave scheme last week, soon joined by other backbench colleagues.
During a doorstop interview last week, Abbott said Liberal Party backbenchers were free to speak their mind.
“If that’s the case, why is Mr Abbott continuing to force his colleagues in towing his line on marriage equality?” she said in an email.
Pratt said the world was clearly moving in favour of marriage equality, citing the conservative leaders in the UK and New Zealand who had allowed conscience votes on the issue.
She said it was time for Abbott to join Prime Minister Julia Gillard and allow a conscience vote for his party’s parliamentarians.
