Rodney Croome Tireless campaigners for same-sex marriage in Australia believe the House of Lords’ support for marriage equality leaves Australian politicians with no excuses for not supporting the reform. Overnight, the House of Lords voted in favour of UK government legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry, with such marriages expected to begin in mid-2014. Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome says if such a traditional and conservative chamber as the House of Lords can support marriage equality than Australia's politicians have no excuses for not supporting it too. "Australia is now alone among developed, English-speaking countries in not allowing same-sex couples to marry." Same-sex marriages are allowed in the UK, New Zealand, Canada, thirteen US states and thirteen other countries. Croome expects many Australians will marry in the UK given close links between the two countries. "As if it's not bad enough that Australian couples are forced to marry under the laws of another country, once they return to Australia their solemn vows of lifelong commitment count for nothing." At the weekend, a Galaxy poll found 11 per cent of Coalition voters in Australia are more likely to vote Labor because of Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd's, support for marriage equality, while 58 per cent of voters believe Coalition leader, Tony Abbott's, opposition to marriage equality is out of step with community attitudes. A whopping 54 per cent of young voters are more likely to vote Labor because of Rudd's stance. Croome has renewed calls for Abbott to allow a Coalition conscience vote so the issue can be resolved as quickly as possible.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 16th July 2013 - 1:25pm