There are calls for Conservative Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi to be disendorsed after he once again linked same-sex marriage to polygamy and bestiality.
The Christian Senator was forced to resign as Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s personal parliamentary secretary when he first made the comments last year.
Mr Bernadi upped the ante on Tuesday, saying both polygamy and bestiality are linked to what he called “the radical agenda of the Greens party”.
“There is actually now a petition being put together for the House of Representatives by Greens activists to legally recognise multi-member unions,” he told Fairfax Media.
“Now, I said that would happen – it’s happening, we haven’t even taken the first step.
“Now, you know, I think there should be alarm, that if you’re going to redefine a word to satisfy demands of a minority, then you’re going to face continuing demands in that space.”
Senator Bernardi was then asked whether there was any evidence to suggest his claims would occur.
“Well, there is a demand,” he replied.
“There is an organised group looking for multi-member marriage and recognition of that. It’s Green activists – I’ve given a number of speeches in the Parliament about it.
“And the other example I gave about bestiality, of course it was an extreme example, but once again, it’s linked to the radical agenda of the Greens party.”
Bernardi’s comments slammed
The Senator’s comments have been derided by politicians both sides of politics.
Coalition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull told Sky News the comments are very offensive.
“I think his remarks obviously represent his personal views but they create a lot offense with same-sex couples,” he said.
“A lot of offense. Particularly suggesting that if same sex marriage were deemed lawful it would lead to bestiality.”
Bernadi links bestiality to the radical Greens agenda – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (1)
AUDIO: Sarah-Hanson Young talks to PM (PM)
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the Greens’ spokeswoman for gay and gender issues, says Senator Bernardi should be disendorsed over the comments.
Senator Hanson-Young says it is worrying that Senator Bernardi holds such a prominent position for the Liberal Party in South Australia.
“Cory Bernardi sits at the top of the Liberal ticket in South Australia. He is the voice for the Liberals and Tony Abbott in South Australia – I think that’s really concerning,” she said.
“I think there’d be many Liberal voters out there today shaking their heads and questioning whether they want to vote for a Liberal Party that endorses this type of bigotry and these types of comments.”
No petition to recognise multi-member groups
Senator Hanson-Young says she is unaware of a petition to recognise multi-member groups “specifically for the [House of Representatives]”.
“I do know that Cory Bernardi has spoken about a list of – I think it’s about 20 people or individuals across the country who have said that they support polyamory or polygamy, but let’s be real about this,” she said.
“The Australian people don’t take this argument by Cory Bernardi seriously at all.
“There is an overwhelming support in the Australian community for marriage equality, to allow same-sex couples the same rights under the law to celebrate, to have their love recognised, and this type of demeaning of their status of relationship and the level of their love is pretty below the belt from Cory.”
She said that Senator Bernardi’s suggestion that the Greens support bestiality is insulting to a lot of Australians.
“I think it’s quite disappointing and I’m dismayed really that Cory Bernardi hasn’t seem to have learned perhaps from the outrage that he created last time he made these comments,” she said.
“They’re really hurtful to a lot of people, and there’s thousands of Australian couples whose relationships and love for each other is being undermined and deemed not very nice – awful – just because Cory Bernardi is continuing with this type of bigotry.”
Author: Peter Lloyd
Publication: ABC News
Date: 18 June 2013