Marriage equality advocates have told the Labor Party they are campaigning for a win on the issue in 2012 and have warned the ALP not to “pull any stunts” by introducing the legislation prematurely.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said his group has a serious lobbying plan to secure a conscience vote from the Coalition before the introduction of legislation by ALP backbencher, Stephen Jones, sometime later this year.
The declaration comes in the wake a statement by Mr Jones that he does not expect his Bill to succeed, as well as comments from senior Labor sources suggesting the Party’s unity will be undermined if the debate “drags on”. (Full report here)
Mr Greenwich said,
“Marriage equality is winnable in 2012 if we are allowed the time we need to lobby individual Coalition members in favour of a conscience vote, and reassure religious opponents of reform that they will not be adversely affected.”
“If Labor’s intention is play politics with our lives by introducing a Bill prematurely then the ALP remains as much a hurdle to reform as the Coalition, and is doing exactly what it always accuses the Greens of, pulling a stunt.”
“Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, has agreed not to introduce her marriage equality legislation until the Coalition is allowed a conscience vote and we call on the ALP to show the same maturity and make the same commitment.”
Mr Greenwich said that in 2012 Coalition MPs will hear from same-sex couples in their electorates, prominent conservative figures, and international experts on the impact of marriage equality, in a lobbying program that will take several months.
He also said it is important for the House of Representatives to first debate a motion from Tasmanian independent, Andrew Wilkie, which seeks to assure the churches they will not have to marry same-sex couples when marriage equality is achieved.
“Coalition MPs like Ross Vasta, Judi Moylan and Steve Ciobo are following the lead of Malcolm Turnbull and Teresa Gambaro in surveying their electorates on the issue of same-sex marriage and others are sure to follow.”
“The Coalition is only just beginning to properly debate this issue and to rush it into a vote early in the year will only antagonise those Coalition MPs who might otherwise support reform.”
“We are in this to win equality, and refuse to accept any strategy that sets the issue up to fail.”
High-profile Coalition figures such as Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce have supported a Coalition conscience vote on marriage equality but Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, remains opposed.
At its December National Conference the Labor Party opted for a conscience vote giving reform a low chance of success unless the Coalition also allows a conscience vote.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.
Links to coalition MPs same-sex marriage surveys are below:
Ross Vasta: http://www.rossvasta.com.au/OnlineSurveys/SameSexMarriageSurvey.aspx
Judi Moylan: http://www.judimoylan.com.au/Haveyoursay/OnlineSurvey/SameSexMarriageSurvey.aspx
Steve Ciobo: http://polldaddy.com/s/A94ECC963FB48067
Malcolm Turnbull: http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/wentworth/same-sex-marriage-survey-results-2/
Teresa Gambaro: http://teresagambaro.com/2011/07/same-sex-marraige-survey-results/