In August, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote an opinion piece in The Age arguing that “the fight for marriage equality should be above party politics, which is a vital reason to give members of parliament a conscience vote on the matter.”
Although the Greensand increasing numbers of Labor figures support the demand for marriage equality, there have been increasing calls from these quarters for the ALP to allow MPs to vote according to their consciences on this issue.
Advocates of the conscience vote have argued alternately that it is a compromise that suits both sides, whichit is the best we can hope for, or that it is a step in the right direction.
