Rodney Croome outlines why Australian Marriage Equality will be targeting Liberals in the upcoming federal election.
Who should marriage equality voters support in the upcoming federal election?
Surely a vote for the Greens and Labor is logical given the Coalition has consistently opposed reform?
‘Twere it that simple.
The fact Labor has allowed a conscience vote means reform only has a fighting chance if the Liberals can be persuaded to do the same.
It also means marriage equality has become an electorate-by-electorate issue.
As a result, Australian Marriage Equality (AME) will be targeting inner-urban Liberals who are yet to support reform and highlighting Liberals who have a better stance than their Labor contender.
We supported conservative pro-equality candidates in the recent Tasmanian Upper House election with the result that a majority of voters cast their ballots for marriage equality candidates.
If we want to move the Coalition forward so it allows a conscience vote and so enough Liberal MPs vote for reform, we have to do the same nationally.
We will also back those Labor candidates who have shown strong support for marriage equality.
But Rainbow Labor is already doing an excellent job in this area, leaving AME to focus resources on the Coalition as well.
AME is also focussed on ensuring the Greens have the balance of power in the Senate so they can place pressure on a future Coalition Government to allow a conscience vote.
Both Christine Milne and myself were involved in achieving decriminalisation in Tasmania under a Liberal Government that had stridently opposed reform up to the point when the Greens won the balance.
With the Greens in the hot seat, the marriage equality movement can achieve the same under an Abbott Government.
Groups like Equal Love want to crack the Coalition nut with a referendum.
But I think there’s an easier, less painful way: engage with them.
With marriage equality in New Zealand, and soon in the UK, both under conservative governments, reform has ceased to be a left / right issue in Australia.
Marriage equality has left its culture war baggage behind, and is increasingly seen to be about kind values everyone can support like fairness and family.
It’s time to translate that cultural shift into an election strategy that will maximise the chances of achieving marriage equality after September 14.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: Gay News Network
Publication date: May 9 2013