Marriage equality advocates have welcomed Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s, commitment to have marriage equality “resolved” preferably through a cross-parliament conscience vote, but say they do not support Mr Rudd’s fall-back option of a referendum and have called instead for him to initiate a cross-party working group to move the issue forward.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,
“We’re pleased Mr Rudd has re-confirmed his support for marriage equality and we echo his calls on Tony Abbott to allow a Coalition conscience vote so Australia can catch up to our closest allies, including New Zealand, Britain, Canada and the US, by allowing same-sex couples to marry.”
“But we strongly oppose Mr Rudd’s fall-back option of a referendum because it would be expensive, divisive and because politicians are elected to make these kinds of decisions, not handball them back to the electorate.”
“We believe Australians want the parties to work together to achieve this reform so we have written to Mr Rudd asking him to initiate a cross-party working group to advance the issue, similar to the one that already exists in NSW.”
“Cross-party co-operation has been the key to achieving marriage equality in many other countries, including New Zealand the the UK, and it will be the key in Australia.”
Australian Marriage Equality came out strongly against a referendum or plebiscite on marriage equality when the idea was mooted by federal independent, Tony Windsor.
At that stage the group said it feared the campaign around a national poll would be misused by some opponents of reform as a platform for fear-mongering. For more click here.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 28 June 2013