Tony Abbott has expressed sympathy with a Vietnam veteran who met him yesterday to make the case for his gay son to have the right to get married, although the Opposition Leader ruled out changing the party’s position.
Mr Abbott made the comments to Geoff Thomas who stood up to the Opposition Leader to change his position opposing gay marriage on live TV while the election was being fought.
Late yesterday afternoon, Mr Thomas and his gay son Nathan received a private audience with Mr Abbott in his electorate office to put their case emotionally for change.
A spokesman for Mr Abbott said the meeting had been honest.
“There was a candid discussion with Nathan and Geoff Thomas in which Mr Abbott restated that the Coalition’s policy is to oppose gay marriage and that it is Coalition policy not to have a conscience vote on the issue,” the spokesman said.
Julia Gillard has so far refused attempts to hear advocates for change.
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