What’s one thing you’d change about your political party? For Liberal Councilor Christine Forster, the answer’s simple.
“It’s a no-brainer for me. Of course it’s marriage equality.”
Forster is the first out female Liberal politician, and is also the sister of Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, whose opinion about changing the Marriage Act is firmly at odds with hers.
Speaking at a Women Say Something event at Oxford Street’s Slide on Wednesday evening, she told the crowd that marriage equality was “the one issue on which I take issue with the Liberal Party and I take issue with my brother.
“Any time a senior politician comes around on this issue, I say ‘you beaut!’”
“It’s been well documented that I’d like to see it change,” she pointed out. “It’s an important social justice, and I think everyone in this room would agree with me on that. I would like to see it happen.”
Forster is in a long-term same-sex partnership herself, and has previously stated that her brother supports their relationship.
Asked about whether Abbott might change his mind about changing our law on marriage in Australia, Forster replied: “I wouldn’t like to second-guess it. Even some in the Labor Party don’t agree with it. Julia Gillard didn’t, and Kevin Rudd only came around in the last few months. And that’s great – any time a senior politician comes around on this issue, I say ‘you beaut!’
“Tony’s been very clear that they [the Coalition] went to the last election with the Marriage Act as it stands being their policy,” she added. “They’ll go to this election with that, but it will be a matter up for discussion and debate in the new party room.
“It’s my wish and desire that if there are new Liberal Party MP’s elected, that they have a robust debate, and given that things have moved on in the last three years… I hope there’ll be a shift.”
Author: Matt Akersten
Publication: same same
Date: 9 August 2013