Voters say Abbott has turned his back Liberal’s free vote tradition / Poll shows 61% of Australians want marriage equality now / Positions of Federal MPs revealed and show many still undecided
According to a national Galaxy poll released today 61% of Australians want same-sex marriage legislation passed in this term of government, while 73% believe the Coalition’s stance should be based on the its tradition of allowing conscience votes rather than on Tony Abbott’s opposition to the issue at the last election. Full poll report from Galaxy can be viewed here.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,
“This poll shows Australians are ready for marriage equality now, and want parliament to get on with it so the nation can move on.”
“It also shows Australians believe Tony Abbott has turned his back on Coalition tradition in order to enforce his personal view on others.”
“This perception will cause disunity for Mr Abbott in the Coalition party room, and discredit him in the eyes of the electorate.”
“We don’t expect Mr Abbott to will change his personal opposition to reform, but making equality for gay Australians the one issue to re-define decades of Liberal Party tradition sets a dangerous precedent”.
This poll contradicts the views of those politicians who believe the issue should be deferred because Australians are not yet ready for marriage equality. It is also a direct challenge to Tony Abbott’s view that his personal opposition to marriage equality at the last election should bind all Coalition members.
Another poll by Galaxy Research, released at the weekend, showed 77% of Coalition voters support a Coalition conscience vote on allowing same-sex marriages (details here)
In anticipation of a vote on marriage equality in the second half of this year Australian Marriage Equality has launched a new website which includes information on the position of all MPs and Senators and which allows supporters of reform to send a letter directly to their local federal representatives.
“When we do the numbers what is clear is that the future of this reform lies in the hands of the large number of undecided and undeclared politicians and it is these politicians our lobbying efforts will target in the lead up to the vote”, Mr Greenwich said.
“I urge everyone who supports this issue to write to their federal politicians as a matter of urgency.”
AME’s analysis shows marriage equality has more supporters than opponents in the Senate but less in the House of Representatives. The website can be viewed here and the positions are summarised below:
Senate
Support: 25
Undecided: 33
Oppose: 18
House
Support: 35
Undecided: 62
Oppose: 53
For further information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335