Ten votes in it: AME
Marriage equality advocates say there are only ten votes needed to get same-sex marriage legislation passed through the Senate.
The claim comes as lobby group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) says it has secured the support of Joe Ludwig, the 29th senator to declare support for marriage equality.
AME cites a letter Ludwig sent to constituents saying last year’s change in Labor Party policy to support same-sex marriage was a, “positive change … that builds on Labor’s history of removing discrimination for GLBTI Australians”.
“Only ten more votes are needed for the Senate to pass [the] reform,” AME national convenor Alex Greenwich said.
“With only 20 Senators against and 27 still undecided or undeclared, we believe marriage equality has a great chance of passing the Senate.”
There is currently one same-sex marriage bill before the Senate and two same-sex marriage private members bills in the House of Representatives.
Greenwich said AME is looking to the Senate to lead the debate and has started a campaign to convince undecided senators on the need for change, with 10,000 emails sent since yesterday.
Click here for AME’s list of Senate marriage equality supporters.
