fred nile1lrg
Fred Nile is upset that Barry O’Farrell has come out in support of same-sex marriage. Photo: Peter Rae

Fred Nile has pulled his crucial support for state government legislation after Premier Barry O’Farrell’s public comments in favour of same-sex marriage.

In a letter sent to Mr O’Farrell on Monday night, the Reverend Nile said he was “very upset at the Premier’s public support for homosexual marriage and his challenge to Tony Abbott’s rejection of a Conscience Vote on the Homosexual Marriage Bill”.

“Our Christian Democratic Party will withdraw its support for O’Farrell legislation until his challenges to Tony Abbott’s policy cease.”

barry ofarrell conscience vote lrg
Barry O’Farrell called on his federal colleagues to hold a conscience vote on same-sex marriage. Photo: John Veage

The Premier last week said he had changed his mind on the issue and now believes that same-sex marriage should be given legal status under the federal Marriage Act. Mr O’Farrell also said Opposition Leader Tony Abbott should allow a conscience vote on the issue.

In the letter, Mr Nile said: “I am still unhappy with the Premier’s response to my request to him for a correction to his statement and to withdraw his challenge to Tony Abbott.

fred nile2lrg
“The Premier claims in his response to me: (quote) ‘I didn’t “challenge” anyone’. He obviously does not understand the impact of his own words.”

Mr Nile said Mr O’Farrell’s press statement called for a conscience vote in the federal Liberal Party, “which is a clear challenge to Tony Abbott’s long-held position”.

“The Premier needs to show some loyalty to Tony Abbott,” Mr Nile said.

Mr O’Farrell came out publicly in favour of same-sex marriage last week after the New Zealand Parliament voted to change the country’s laws.

“My view – a view that I’ve come to in recent years – is that as a Liberal who believes that commitment and family units are one of the best ways in which society is organised, I support the concept of same-sex marriage,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“We should as governments be encouraging commitment. As societies we should be encouraging commitment. Because ultimately, people caring for each other work side by side with governments to create better communities.”

Asked about Mr Abbott’s position, Mr O’Farrell argued federal Parliament “ought to reflect the community and allow same-sex marriage. I think in coming to that decision the federal Parliament should do so by way of a conscience vote across all parties.”

Mr O’Farrell said he was “not going to campaign on the issue” but felt the New Zealand vote presented a “suitable opportunity” to express his view.

The O’Farrell government has been dependent on Mr Nile’s vote to pass contentious legislation to privatise state electricity assets.

A NSW upper house inquiry is considering whether the state is constitutionally able to legalise same-sex marriage. Last November, a cross-party working group gave notice it would introduce the State Marriage Equality Bill to the upper house.

In May last year the NSW upper house voted 22-16 in favour of a motion supporting same-sex equality, but many believe any attempt to legalise same-sex marriage would be defeated in the lower house. An upper house Greens MP and member of the cross-party working group, Cate Faehrmann, has said Mr O’Farrell’s advocacy could change that.

Author: Anna Patty
Publication: The Sydney Morning Herald
Publication Date: April 23 2013