Prof John Warhurst explains why support for marriage equality is growing: Many Australian political issues are international in character and we often care what the world is doing. The argument that we are out of step can sometimes prevent change. Why this is so is another matter. It may be praiseworthy common sense or spineless timidity by our political leaders.
The carbon tax debate is a case in point. Australian momentum for change has certainly been hindered by the evaporation of significant global momentum for the idea. We are left looking like leaders rather than followers or even just safely in the pack.
However, international momentum seems to be slowly building in support of same-sex marriage. New York State is the latest jurisdiction to allow it and some favourable Australian publicity, including many human interest stories, has flowed from that development. It invigorates advocates for change and thus makes federal legislation allowing same-sex marriage in Australia a little more likely than would otherwise be the case. Some centrist observers like the former Queensland premier Peter Beattie have begun to reassess their position. Beattie had a reputation as a finger-on-the-pulse sort of premier and was opposed to same-sex marriage. He has now written in The Australian that, ‘‘I am beginning to wonder if my conservative views are out of touch with community attitudes here and in the USA’’. He also speculates about whether a tide of change is on the way.
Same-sex marriage is an important issue for many human rights advocates, of course, especially for those gay and lesbian Australians who wish to marry and their supporters, including family members.
But how the politics plays out will have wider political implications for major political players, including the Greens, the Labor Government and the Coalition Opposition, as well as community groups like the churches and church-related organisations.
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