AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Media Release
Saturday May 4th 2013

Marriage equality advocates have challenged Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, to allow a conscience vote on the issue, in the wake of Mr Abbott’s claims that only a handful of Coalition members would vote for the reform.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome said,

“If Mr Abbott is so sure the Coalition backs his opposition to marriage equality, then he should have no qualms putting it to the test by allowing a conscience vote.”

“If he refuses, it may be an indication that there are higher levels of support among Coalition MPs than he is willing to admit.”

“Our lobbying of Coalition members indicates that when a conscience vote is allowed the number of Coalition MPs willing to openly support marriage equality will increase dramatically.”

Mr Croome rejected Mr Abbott’s claim that marriage equality is no more inevitable than Australia becoming a republic.

“Exclusion from marriage profoundly affects many Australian couples and families in a way having a hereditary head of state does not.”

“It will be the growing aspiration of tens of thousands of Australians for inclusion in one of society’s core institutions that will move the Coalition towards support for marriage equality in exactly the same way it moved the Labor Party.”

For a report on Mr Abbott’s comments, click here.

For more information contact Rodney Croome 0409 010 668.