Renewed call for coalition conscience vote
Advocates hope Senator David Leyonhjelm’s Freedom to Marry Bill will be a turning point on the road to marriage equality by paving the way for a Coalition conscience vote on the reform.
Senator Leyonhjelm this evening flagged he will introduce the Bill tomorrow.
Australian Marriage Equality deputy director, Ivan Hinton-Teoh said,
“Our work with the Coalition gives us hope this Bill will lead to a Coalition free vote and win over key government figures because of its emphasis on individual freedom from state interference.”
“We call on Tony Abbott to allow a Coalition free vote because that would be consistent with Coalition values and tradition and because it has the support of 77% of Australians according to polling by the Liberal Party’s own pollster Crosby/Textor.”
“Our lobbying gives us confidence there is majority support for a free vote in Coalition ranks, and now is the time for Coalition supporters of a free vote to speak out.”
“To push for a free vote, we will be encouraging supporters of marriage equality to call and email their Coalition MPs, boosting our local campaigns in fifty key electorates and launching a social media campaign to add to the pressure.”
“Australians want our country to rejoin the company of nations, like the UK, the US, Canada and New Zealand, that already allow same-sex couples to marry.”
“It’s embarrassing that same-sex couples can marry in places like Utah and Oklahoma, but not Australia.”
“Let’s get this done so so Australia can embrace equality and move on.”
Before the last election Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, said a conscience vote on marriage equality was a matter for the Coalition party room to decide on.
The Labor Party already has a conscience vote.
Mr Hinton-Teoh went on to say his group remains opposed to the provision of Senator Leyonhjelm’s Bill which provides civil celebrants with an exemption so they do not have to marry same-sex or other couples.
“Civil celebrants are registered by the government to perform a government duty and should not be allowed to discriminate in discharging that duty.”
For more information contact Ivan Hinton-Teoh on 0419 124 826 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Ivan Hinton-Teoh
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 25 november 2014