Marriage equality advocates have praised Labor MP, Doug Cameron, for criticising Labor’s current opposition to allowing same-sex marriages.
Australian Marriage Equality National Convener, Alex Greenwich, said Mr Cameron represents many Labor MPs who have privately told AME they support marriage equality.
“We commend Doug Cameron for voicing what many of his colleagues believe – Labor’s opposition to full legal equality for same-sex couples is out-of-step with Labor values and community opinion”, Mr Greenwich said.
“Since we unveiled a national poll on Friday showing 62% of Australians support marriage equality and 78% want a conscience vote on the issue, almost 2000 people have shown their support for a conscience vote by sending letters to Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott through our website.”
“In light of Mr Cameron’s call for different points of view on marriage equality to be canvassed within the Labor Party, we re-iterate our call for a conscience vote.”
Following a meeting yesterday of Labor’s national left faction, Mr Cameron, who is the faction co-convener, said marriage equality is inevitable, that reform will “allow Labor to reconnect with progressive Australians”, and that party discipline should be loosened to allow greater debate.
On Friday, AME and PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) released a Galaxy poll which found 62% of Australians believe same-sex couples should be able to marry and 78% support a conscience vote on the issue.
The release coincided with the launch of a new website dedicated to a marriage equality conscience vote.
For the full poll report visit:
www.australianmarriageequality.org/newopinionpoll.htm
For the conscience vote website visit:
www.freevote.org.au
For further comment call Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.