JULIA GILLARD HAS PROMISED A CONSCIENCE VOTE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO LABOR MPS. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
IT IS time for politicians to say yes to gay marriage. A conscience vote on the matter can be held anytime in Federal Parliament in the lead-up to September’s election and could be moved by any individual member.
So let’s just get on with it.
It would be good to see some real leadership from politicians on this important social issue. Recently there has been debate about whether a referendum on gay marriage should be held at the same time as the federal election.
It was a good-natured suggestion by independent Tony Windsor, who admitted he would probably change his vote and support gay marriage.
But don’t be fooled. A referendum is not a serious proposal from those who want marriage equality.
When you have people like Reverend Fred Nile and the Australian Christian Lobby supporting the move, it’s a sign that it’s not in the interests of gay people. They know that a referendum on the issue is unlikely to succeed and its failure will close down the issue for a decade or more.
It would be like the republican debate, when the government agreed to a referendum on the matter, but ensured that the model put to people – the “politicians’ president” – was unlikely to succeed.
So some people who supported a republic didn’t vote yes in the referendum.
And just because there is popular support for gay marriage, it doesn’t mean a referendum would pass.
Only eight of 44 referendums have passed in Australia since 1906. People are very conservative when it comes to changing the Constitution and tend to vote no.
In any case, it’s not necessary. A referendum is needed when you want to change the Constitution and all we need is a change to the Marriage Act.
But there is a palpable change in the popular mood, an acceptance of gay marriage. In fact, there’s a real buzz, a sense that we are on the cusp of success.
When Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was quizzed about his support for gay marriage at the Herald Sun People’s Forum in Geelong, he said it was “not inevitable”.
But he left the door open for change, suggesting there might be change in the future to allow Coalition MPs a free conscience vote. “What our policy is post the election will be a matter for the party room at that time,” he said.
Many people are interpreting that as a signal that the party might be softening its stance on the issue, although Mr Abbott has since denied that. Of course, there are many key Liberals who do support a free conscience vote and they are arguing for it internally.
The importance of a conscience vote on the matter can’t be underestimated. As Prime Minister Julia Gillard pointed out recently, in countries like France and New Zealand, which have recently moved marriage equality laws, conservative MPs all had a conscience vote.
Ms Gillard herself has promised a conscience vote on gay marriage to Labor MPs, giving members free rein to support or oppose any Bill on the issue without regard for the party line.
Speaking at the second Herald Sun People’s Forum a few weeks ago, Ms Gillard reaffirmed her party’s support for a conscience vote, but said her personal opposition to gay marriage was unchanged.
But she admitted that many people thought her view that marriage should be between a man and woman was “eccentric”. She also said she didn’t want to impose her own views on others.
It was an important concession, indicating that she is no longer taking a leadership role against the issue. That is a major shift.
Ms Gillard also admitted to the crowd that civil unions would no longer be enough.
“I don’t think people would be satisfied that anything less (than marriage) would do,” she told the forum.
Again, it’s an important concession.
But what irks me is the fact that the Labor Party has just moved a whole list of anti-discrimination Bills designed to protect the rights of gay people, but are refusing to champion the one thing that will make a real difference.
If national polls are anything to go by, gay marriage is inevitable and it will happen sooner rather than later. In poll after poll around the country, 65 to 80 per cent of people say they want gay men and women to have the same marriage rights as the rest of us.
In the end, it’s just about recognising that marriage matters and that love should be legally recognised in marriage, regardless of the gender of the couple.
It’s really not a big deal, so let’s just get on with it.
Author: Susie O’Brien
Publication: Herald Sun
Publication Date: May 7 2013