Some members of the Australian Labor Party are trying to bring gay marriage to a parliamentary vote as early as August, to stop it diverting attention from other issues. Parliament has two private members bills before it, one from Greens Adam Bandt and the other from Labor MP Stephen Jones. Members of Labor’s right faction want the legislation to be voted on soon, claiming it is headed for inevitable defeat. Government MPs will get a free vote on the legislation, but Coalition members are bound to vote against it. The Green MP, Bandt, wants a vote delayed, to give an opportunity to gather more support and to try to build up pressure for Tony Abbott to give Liberals a free vote. Alex Greenwich from Australian Marriage Equality says "myth-making" about the inevitable failure of marriage equality is just another ploy by those opposed to reform who are trying to create a "self-fulfilling prophecy". "The only thing 'inevitable' about marriage equality is that support in parliament will continue to increase,” he says. "We are keen to see this issue debated in the second half of the year, preferably later in the year to allow the Coalition more time to endorse a conscience vote."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 20th June 2012 - 10:33am