Civil celebrant Ron Egeberg supports a conscience vote in parliament on gay marriage.
PARLIAMENT should make a decision on same-sex marriage rather than holding a constitutional referendum, all of Ballarat’s federal election candidates believe.
And local people in long-term same-sex relationships have echoed the candidates, saying a majority of Australians would support legalisation of gay marriage.
Ballarat civil celebrant Ron Egeberg has been with his partner for more than 18 years.
He said most referendums “don’t get up” no matter what the public support.
“We saw what happened to the republic issue. That was just destroyed, even when most people supported it,” he said.
Mr Egeberg supported a conscience vote, saying that it was the job of parliamentarians to listen to their constituents.
“Their views are very much important and must be carried through,” he said.
A referendum at the next election was proposed by independent MP Tony Windsor, receiving support from religious groups and some same-sex marriage advocates.
But many people in favour of marriage reform think it’s a bad idea.
Daylesford’s ChillOut festival co-director Penelope Cummins has been with her partner for 16 years.
She said a referendum would stall the progress on marriage reform.
“We’d far prefer a conscience vote, particularly when there is an overwhelming majority of the public who agree,” she said.
Ballarat MP Catherine King said a conscience vote was the most appropriate way to deal with the issue, saying a referendum would be “divisive”.
“Any change to allow same-sex marriage would occur by amending the Marriage Act, not the constitution,” she said.
Liberal candidate for Ballarat John Fitzgibbon is against a referendum, saying the next federal election would be a referendum on “removing the worst government in Australian history”.
“Now is not the time for a plebiscite on the issue of same sex marriage,” he said.
Greens candidate Steph Hodgins-May branded the referendum a “distraction”, calling on Tony Abbott to allow a free vote for the Coalition as Labor had done.
“We think that this is something parliament should be able to do. They are elected to make these decisions. An overwhelming amount of Australians support marriage equality,” she said.
Author: Tom Cowie
Publication: The Courier
Publication Date: May 3 2013