Bendigo MP Steve Gibbons is keeping silent about his personal views on gay marriage, despite speaking out against Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to take the issue to a conscience vote.
Mr Gibbons refused to say which way he would vote on the issue, but did say he was a strong supporter of fellow Federal MP Penny Wong, whom he considered a friend, as well as a colleague.
On Saturday Ms Wong, whose same-sex partner is expecting their first child next month, rejected Ms Gillard’s call for a conscience vote and called for the party’s national platform to be changed to reflect its core value of equality.
“I have a huge regard for Penny Wong both as a minister and as a person, and I know Penny feels very strongly on this issue,” Mr Gibbons said.
“I would like to say that I am very proud that my party has removed 99.9 per cent of discrimination for same-sex couples.”
But Mr Gibbons said he was hesitant to say which side of the same-sex marriage debate he was leaning towards because of the amount of negative attention it might send his way.
For the full article, click here
Related coverage here.