A GROWING group of Liberal MPs has seized on Tony Abbott’s change of language on gay marriage and believe they will have the support in the partyroom to win a conscience vote on the issue after the September election.
Recent comments by the Opposition Leader that left the door open to Coalition MPs having a conscience vote have sparked a shift in the partyroom, with many backbenchers and frontbenchers – even those opposed to gay marriage – now backing a “free” vote.
Coalition frontbencher Simon Birmingham told The Australian he and other Liberal MPs strongly believed the partyroom would join them in their push for a free vote after the election.
Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer, who represents the Melbourne seat of Higgins, is writing to constituents concerned about the Coalition’s position on same-sex marriage, making it clear she will push after the election for a conscience vote in her partyroom.
Other MPs, who spoke anonymously, told The Australian the conscience vote was strongly supported and would be adopted during the next parliament.
Mr Abbott, who had been steadfastly opposed to a conscience vote, earlier this year signalled a possible policy shift, saying “in the end you have to respect strong feelings within the party”.
Senator Birmingham said the vote in favour of gay marriage in New Zealand last month was a watershed that showed conservatives could lead change on gay marriage. He said Mr Abbott’s partyroom would consider a free vote after the election.
“Tony’s approach shows great respect to the electorate,” Senator Birmingham said. “He is being upfront in this campaign, as he was in the last campaign. I welcome the opportunity to make clear my support for a conscience vote in the partyroom at an appropriate time in the future, after the election.
“I hope that colleagues with opposing views on marriage equality would nonetheless support the right of their colleagues to exercise a different viewpoint.”
A private member’s bill moved by Labor backbencher Stephen Jones last September to amend the Marriage Act and allow gay couples to marry, was voted down in the House of Representatives 98 votes to 42.
In Ms O’Dwyer’s letter, seen by The Australian, she says while she was forced to vote against gay marriage in parliament last year, her personal view was for change.
“There can be no question that social change is complex,” she writes. “As a society, we should constantly assess and reassess where we stand on important social issues.
“You might also be aware that the Leader of the Opposition has noted that if the issue is raised in a new parliament, it would be a matter for that partyroom to determine.
“As I have stated publicly on many occasions, my view is that each member of parliament should be able to vote on this issue in the new parliament according to their conscience.”
The shift in the Coalition partyroom comes after the decision by Labor’s gay group – Rainbow Labor – to launch a national campaign to promote pro-gay marriage candidates, MPs and senators, and will campaign for the ones willing to vote in favour in the next parliament.
The strategy is copied from Britain where campaigners did the same thing to build support and expose those who were not supporters.
Author: Patricia Karvelas
Publication: The Australian
Publication Date: May 3 2013