Marriage equality advocates have welcomed support for allowing same-sex marriages from an ALP branch in the Sydney electorate of Reid only days after their federal member, John Murphy, said Labor members who support marriage equality should “join the Greens”.
A Statement from Branch President Gina Wilson reads:
“John Murphy’s branch last night passed a motion in favour of marriage equality and called on the Federal Member for Reid to acknowledge that he did not speak for the Lidcomb branch when he spoke against mariage and that his of the cuff doorstop “community consultation” was not representative of the views his electorate. The motion was debated and passed in the presence of John Murphy”
Alex Greenwich from Australian Marriage Equality congratulated grass-roots ALP members in Reid for their courage in standing up for Labor values like equality and fairness.
“Labor Party members in John Murphy’s electorate are much closer to both the core values of the Party and to mainstream opinion than Mr Murphy himself” Mr Greenwich said.
“Polls show only 36% of people in Reid oppose same-sex marriages, while 74% of Labor voters support it nationally.”
“The passing of this motion shows that the grassroots members of ALP will no longer put up with being mis-represented by those they elect. This message is especially timely ahead of the August 24th report back and the December National ALP Conference”
Last week Mr Murphy also called for there to be a referendum. Mr Greenwich said he believed a referendum would succeed but that it is unnecessary.
“Politicians are elected to make decisions, not hand-ball them back to voters.”
“We know of parents, doctors and people of faith who have tried to contact Mr Murphy to show their support for marriage equality and hopefully he will now be more inclined to listen to them.”
ROY MORGAN POLL: 68% SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY
A new poll conducted by Roy Morgan Research has shown support for marriage equality is as high as 68% (details here). The poll shows that support for reform has increased since Australian Marriage Equality (AME) commissioned a Galaxy poll which put support at 62% in October last year (details here). AME’s National Convener, Alex Greenwich, has welcomed the poll: “following the Galaxy Poll last October many Australians have continued the conversation about marriage equality, and we are encouraged that more and more Australians are opening their hearts to ending discrimination in the marriage act”.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.