A Liberal Party branch has voted in favour of a conscience vote on marriage equality, increasing pressure on Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote vote when the issue is debated in Parliament later this year.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, welcomed a motion passed by the East Sydney branch of the Liberal Party which is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia.
“By supporting a free vote on marriage equality the East Sydney branch is standing up for the fundamental Liberal Party principle of individual freedom”, Mr Greenwich said.
“It also sends a clear message to Tony Abbott that this issue will to continue grow until he allows Coalition members the same freedom as Labor MPs currently have to vote according according to their conscience.”
Mr Greenwich said Australian Marriage Equality will be writing to other Liberal Party branches asking them to pass motions to the East Sydney branch.
“Failure to grant such a vote will result in dissatisfaction from Coalition branches, members and voters, many of whom want their party to play a part in bringing about this historic reform.”
Mr Greenwich also welcomed pro-marriage equality submissions to the Senate inquiry into same-sex marriage from NSW National MLC Trevor Khan, NSW Liberal Legislative Council president Don Harwin, and former Liberal senator Chris Puplick.
“Excluding same-sex couples from having their relationships recognised through marriage is a powerful and harmful message from the Parliament that these relationships are not regarded as equal and are not as valued,” Harwin wrote.
“I do not regard civil unions as an adequate substitute for full equality in marriage for same-sex partners. The establishment by government of a new and separate institution for same-sex couples only compounds rather than resolves the issue of inequality.”
Nationals MLC Trevor Khan wrote that the committee should consider those who were being affected by the ban.
“The most compelling are the personal stories of individuals that have been shared with me since entering the NSW Parliament,” Khan wrote.
Mr Puplick wrote that legalising same-sex marriage would be the final step in the evolution of marriage towards fairness which had begun 155 years ago in the United Kingdom with the passing of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act.
“Successive developments have ensured that people in committed relationships are treated equally before the law, that their interests are protected, their rights are guaranteed and their responsibilities to each other and the community are understood.”
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335