A GREENS candidate has made himself an unusual champion for gay marriage, by joking he and his wife had been having a “same sex” marriage for 40 years.
Dr Jonathan King, standing for the Greens in the Manly seat of Mackellar, made the jibe at a public candidates forum in front of 150 people on Monday night.
When asked about his position on same-sex marriage, Dr King said: “I’ve been married to my wife for 40 years and we’ve been having the same sex,” he said as the room erupted in laughter.
“I support same-sex marriage,” he concluded.
All of those standing in the electorate attended including Liberal MP for Mackellar Bronwyn Bishop, Labor’s Chris Hedge, Dr King for the Greens, Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)’s Silvana Nero and the Palmer United Party’s Debra Drummond.
More coverage of the Mackellar election forum.
Dr King, along with Labor and Palmer United Party candidates, supported marriage equality, and giving MPs a conscience a vote on the matter.
But the Liberals’ Bronwyn Bishop said she had always believed that marriage was between men and women.
She said she had only received 12 emails in the past fortnight about same-sex marriage and did not consider it an “active” issue.
Mrs Bishop found a friend in Christian Democratic Party’s Silvana Nero, who also opposed same-sex marriage.
Later Ms Nero also gave some of her speaking time to Mrs Bishop so the MP could finish an answer about the Coalition’s paid parental leave scheme.
Each candidate made a five-minute address before taking questions on issues ranging from health, public transport, self-funded retirees and environment.
At times the debate was terse as candidates fielded criticism from the crowd.
Mrs Bishop was booed when talking about the Coalition’s direct action plan to reduce carbon emissions, although there was much support for her position as well.
Labor’s Chris Hedge became heated when asked whether Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should be prosecuted over Labor’s “pink batts” home insurance program, for the deaths of four workers.
“I think your question is absolutely offensive,” Mr Hedge responded.
Photo: Martin Lange
Author:Charis Chang
Publication: NewsLOCAL
Date: 28 August 2013