Thu 19 Mar 2015 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Australia’s Senate has supported a motion calling on all parties to allow a free vote on same-sex marriage. A motion from Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young passed the Senate, where opposition parties hold a majority. The government voted against it. Passing marriage equality legislation in Australia will be almost impossible without a Liberal/National free vote. Rodney Croome “Tony Abbott has been sent a direct message by the Senate to allow a free vote so marriage equality can move forward,” says Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome. “Before the election he promised the Liberal/National party room would be able to debate a marriage equality free vote and it’s high time he fulfilled that promise. “It borders on the absurd that we have the Liberal and National parties – parties that say they are champions of individual freedom – not allowing a free vote and not even supporting a motion calling for one.” Croome said it is deeply embarrassing to many Australians that same-sex marriages are allowed in Alabama but not Australia. “When you’re human rights record is worse than Alabama’s you know you’re in trouble. “If, as seems likely, Ireland endorses marriage equality in a referendum in May, Australia will be the only developed, English-speaking country without the reform.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 19th March 2015 - 10:24am