The contentious issue of same-sex marriage has been reignited in the Labor Party.
Backbencher Ian Hunter says the party’s policy is “morally bankrupt”.
“The current ALP policy in this matter is a nonsense,” he said in an emotional speech to the Upper House.
Mr Hunter, who has a same-sex partner, is co-sponsoring a Greens Bill aimed at allowing same-sex couples equal marriage rights in Australia for the first time.
The issue of same-sex marriages was the subject of a fiery debate at the ALP State Convention in November where Federal Finance Minister Penny Wong was given a standing ovation for endorsing a motion supporting same-sex marriage.
The motion is certain to increase pressure on the Federal party to change its formal position on gay marriage at its national conference this year. Currently Labor MPs are committed to supporting the Howard government’s Marriage Act, which does not allow for same-sex marriages.
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