Prime Minister Julia Gillard has explained the reasoning behind her personal views on marriage at a public forum.
Ms Gillard believes marriage is between a man and a woman and last year voted against proposed changes to the marriage act in federal parliament that would have supported same-sex marriage .
“My view’s pretty well known and I’m not seeking to impose my view on anybody,” she told about 100 undecided voters at the forum being held at the Burvale Hotel in Nunawading, Victoria.
Federal parliament’s response to a bill to change the marriage act was to vote it down 98-42, despite heavy lobbying by gay groups and some MPs.
Labor MPs were allowed a conscience vote on the issue, while Liberal MPs followed the party line and the majority opposed it outright.
Ms Gillard said for a future bill to pass, all MPs need to be allowed a conscience vote.
“So I hope the other side of politics gets there,” she said.
However, Ms Gillard acknowledge some voters might think her own view was “eccentric”, given she was in a relationship but unmarried and not religious.
“I have thought in this area that we should develop and purpose-create something new that guides us for the future,” she said.
“So that there would be marriage in its traditional form and there would be other ways of recognising relationships that are full of love and full of significance.”
Earlier, Ms Gillard opened the forum with a short statement listing the federal government’s achievement, particularly on the economy after the global financial crisis.
“We have managed to keep growing jobs,” she said.
She was also asked questions on university funding cuts, what would be in the May budget, the national broadband network and negative gearing.
The forum audience was recruited by Galaxy research.
Author: Sky News
Publication: Sky News
Publication Date: April 22, 2013