Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has taken the stance that Federal Labor MPs and senators should be free to vote on same-sex marriage in Parliament according to their own values and beliefs. But she has ruled out the Labor federal government initiating any bill to change the Marriage Act, which limits marriage to a union between a man and a woman. Gillard is pushing Labor to allow a conscience vote on the issue at next month's national conference in Sydney from December 2 to 4. "I understand that there are deeply held and differing views," she told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday, while making it clear she will vote against the legalisation of same-sex marriage. "I believe that marriage has come to have a particular cultural status and role within our society, and I do not believe that should be changed," she said. Australian Marriage Equality says Gillard pre-empted the national conference by calling for a conscience vote. "Ms Gillard appears to be captive of the extreme right of the Labor Party led by union boss Joe De Bruyn," national convenor Alex Greenwich says. "A majority of Australians, and Labor members and voters, want the Prime Minister to lead the country towards equality, not support outcomes designed to scuttle progress.” Greenwich says Gillard's comments about the “meaning” and “standing” of marriage in Australian culture will be viewed as hurtful and hypocritical to the many same-sex couples who want to marry. "Same-sex couples and our families also want to celebrate the meaning of marriage, yet we are actively denied this by a Prime Minister who has chosen not to get married,” he says. "By again refusing to support equality, the Prime Minister may have broken our hearts, but she has strengthened our resolve."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 16th November 2011 - 1:50pm