Prospective Premier supports marriage

Prospective Premier supports marriage

South Australian Premier-in-waiting Jay Weatherill has today spoken out in favour of marriage equality.

When questioned by reporters, the current Labor Education Minister – due to take over the Labor leadership from current Premier Mike Rann on October 20 – said he supports the removal of discrimination against same-sex couples in the Marriage Act.

“I’ve always been a supporter of same-sex couple marriage,” he said.

He also congratulated South Australian Senator and federal Finance Minister Penny Wong for news she and her partner Sophie Allouche are expecting a baby.

“I’m very pleased for [Wong] and they’re a lovely couple,” Weatherill said.

“I’m sure they’ll make wonderful parents.”

Openly gay Labor MLC Ian Hunter welcomed Weatherill’s comments.

“Jay’s public comments on this matter reflect his values and his voting record on policy matters in the ALP and Parliament,” he said.

“Jay has always been deeply committed to issues of equality and social justice.”

Hunter has challenged the Gillard Government on its policy to refusing to issuing documentation (certificates of non impediment) needed by same-sex couples to get married in some overseas jurisdictions.

“I… warned the Gillard government that, if it continued to deny same-sex couples this documentation, the government runs the very real risk of appearing vindictive and petty in the eyes of same-sex couples, their families and their friends,” Hunter wrote the Attorney-General Robert McClelland in June.

In February Hunter challenged the Federal ALP’s policy of banning same-sex marriage to the White Australia policy, calling it “odius” and “morally bankrupt”.

South Australia Labor voted in favour for marriage equality at their November state conference last year.

When Weatherill becomes Premier of South Australia, every ALP state and territory leader in Australia will be a supporter of same-sex marriage.
Marriage equality advocates aplauded Weatherill’s comments.

“We welcome Mr Weatherill’s support for marriage equality, as will the majority of South Australians who support equality”, Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Peter Furness said.

“Mr Weatherill joins Labor leaders in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT who all support equality. This high level of support for marriage equality helps build momentum for change in the lead up to the ALP National Conference in December.”

The news comes in the same week as News Ltd newspapers released the results of an online survey of readers showing overwhelming support for same-sex marriage.

New Ltd’s Alternative Census showed seven out of ten people from a sample group of nearly 20,000 supported marriage equality.

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4 responses to “Prospective Premier supports marriage”

  1. Great to hear this from our new premier. Also interesting to note that he and Penny Wong were in a long term relationship back in their university days, so good to see they are both having successful careers.

  2. PM Gillard won’t notice because of the amount of hair spray Timmy uses on her probably 50 times a day.