Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the support of the Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr. In an interview with the Fairfax press the Senior Cabinet Minister and former NSW Premier said it ”seemed churlish to deny access to marriage to groups that wanted it”. Senator Carr’s support comes as the Senate prepares to debate and vote on the reform this week.
Australian Marriage Equality, National Convener, Alex Greenwich said:
“Not only is Bob Carr joining the 64% of Australians and majority of his fellow cabinet ministers who back the reform, but he has also evolved from a position where he thought Civil Unions were the way forward”.
“Thousands of constituents have recently written to Senator Carr and shared how this reform would benefit them, their families, and their communities. In doing so they have proved how effective our grassroots campaign has been compared to the alarmism and extremism of opponents of reform”
Mr Greenwich said this week’s vote would highlight how far the campaign for marriage equality has come since the last vote in 2009, where only 6 Senators backed the reform:
“In just three years we have shifted the views over a third of all Senators, and done so in an extremely hostile environment, and without the support of any major party leader,” Mr Greenwich said.
Currently there are 31 declared supporters of marriage equality in the Senate, including 20 from Labor, 9 Greens, and 2 Coalition Senators. Key undecided Senators include Senator Conroy and Senator Xenophon.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.