Ahead of tomorrow’s Victorian State Labor Conference, marriage equality advocates have commended the Victorian Branch of the ALP for their strong record of representing the the 61% of Victorians, and 65% of ALP voters, who support full marriage equality (Source Nielsen Poll, March, 2011).
Australian Marriage Equality National Convener, Alex Greenwich: “Gay and lesbian Victorians and their family and friends are grateful to the Victorian ALP for its active support for marriage equality, and I am sure we will see this support again at this weekend’s 2011 State Conference”.
The Victorian ALP’s support for marriage equality was first declared at the 2009 State Conference when a motion was passed in favour of same-sex marriage (report can be viewed here).
More recently, the Victorian State Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews declared support for marriage equality stating: “I, like a growing number of Victorians, believe that it’s unfair that same-sex couples in Victoria – indeed right across Australia – are not able to exercise the option,” ( full details here ) .
A number of State Parliament members have also been activily campaigning for the issue through the Labour Party’s Rainbow Labour network, including Albert Park’s Martin Foley, Brunswick’s Jan Garrett, Melbourne’s Bronwyn Pike, Northcote’s Fiona Richardson and Richmond’s Richard Wynne (full details here).
Meanwhile, ALP Federal Senator for Victoria Gavin Marshall, has responded to hundreds of emails in support for marriage equality stating: “I will be advocating for a change to allow for same sex marriage and will be doing all I can to encourage other delegates at [the federal] conference to vote accordingly.”
Tomorrow’s state conference is expected to debate a motion put forward by the Victorian Federal relations policy committee motion calling on the Federal Government to allow same-sex marriages to be recognised and registered by law (details here).
For further information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.