Deputy Liberal Party leader Julie Bishop has declared she is willing to listen to the views of her electorate when she considers her vote on gay marriage if legislation came before the parliament with a conscience vote, breaking ranks with her party’s hard line.
Ms Bishop has been conducting an online poll through her website, which shows overwhelming support for gay marriage — but she says that views in her community are more evenly split.
“I’ve got a very open mind on this. Kerryn Phelps has been to see me a few times and, personally, I’ve been listening to people’s views,” she said. “Once I’ve seen any legislation, I’ll canvass the views of my electorate. If it is a conscience vote, I’ve got an open mind on how I’d vote,” Ms Bishop told The Australian. She said she voted for the Howard government’s ban on gay marriage in 2004 but views in the community were mixed now.
Ms Bishop’s comments are at odds with her party’s hardline policy against gay marriage.
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