“Advocates have hailed support from today’s federal Young Liberals Conference for a conscience vote on marriage equality, saying it increases pressure on Tony Abbott to allow Coalition MPs to vote according to their personal beliefs.
At the Young Liberal federal conference in Hobart this afternoon a motion from the Victorian division in favour of a conscience vote gained two thirds support and was passed (copy of motion below).
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
Support from the Young Liberals highlights how important this issue is to young Australians and how it is consistent with Liberal values.”
“The Young Liberal motion increases pressure on Tony Abbott to include a conscience vote in this year’s Coalition election platform and adds to growing pressure for a conscience vote from within the Coalition and from within Mr Abbott’s own family.”
“If the Coalition is to maximise its vote, particularly among young people, it cannot afford to maintain its blanket opposition to this inevitable and popular reform.”
Mr Croome went on to say,
“A conscience vote is about personal freedom and marriage equality is about strengthening relationships and families – all things which Liberals should support”
“It was a grass roots movement within the Labor Party that saw it adopt a pro-marriage equality policy in 2011 and now we are seeing a similar Coalition grass roots movement towards a conscience vote.”
The East Sydney branch of the Liberal Party and the NSW Young Nationals have endorsed a conscience vote, as have a number of high-profile Coalition members including Joe Hockey, George Brandis, Christopher Pyne, Greg Hunt, Malcolm Turnbull, Barry O’Farrell, Simon Birmingham, Barnaby Joyce, Russell Broadbent, former Howard Government minister, Amanda Vanstone, and Tony Abbott’s sister and Sydney Councillor, Christine Forster.
The most recent Galaxy poll on marriage equality showed 64% support across Australia with over 80% among young people. A poll from May last year found that 77% of Coalition voters support a conscience vote and believe it would be “a smart move” for Tony Abbott to allow one.