AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Media Release
Monday April 1st 2013
Marriage equality advocates say the Coalition will lose votes over Tony Abbott’s decision not to allow a conscience vote on the issue.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,
“Mr Abbott’s decision to rule out a conscience vote will cost the Coalition votes, particularly from young people who see this as a signature issue.”
“The decision will be particularly costly to Liberal candidates in inner-city seats who support marriage equality but won’t be able to vote for it if they are elected.”
“These include sitting members like Malcolm Turnbull and Kelly O’Dwyer and challengers like Kevin Eckendahl in Melbourne Ports and Sean O’Connor in Sydney.
Mr Abbott today responded to support for marriage equality from two of his daughters, Frances and Bridget, and from Melbourne’s Liberal Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, by saying the Liberal Party will not be allowed a conscience vote until the party room changes its policy on the issue.
Mr Croome said this ran counter to Liberal Party philosophy which emphasises freedom of individual conscience.
“It is absurd that Labor has a conscience vote when it is supposedly the party of solidarity and the Liberals are enforcing party discipline when they are meant to be the party of individual freedom.”
“It’s time for a cross-party conscience vote so all federal MPs can vote according to their personal views and the views of their constituents.”
For a copy of a report on Mr Abbott’s decision, click here.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.