According to marriage equality advocates Saturday’s election has seen the number of federal MPs in support of the reform increase.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,
“All the sitting Coalition MPs who said they support marriage equality were returned.”
“Thanks to Mr Rudd’s strong support for marriage equality a swath of pro-equality Labor candidates were elected or re-elected despite the trend against the ALP and despite strident anti-gay campaigns against them.”
“In the Lower house the number of declared supporters has increased from 42 to a likely 50, with more expected.”
“We are also pleased to the election of pro-equality Green and independent representatives in both houses.”
“We’re hopeful of assembling a majority in the Senate and take heart that the micro-parties that campaigned hardest against marriage equality will not be represented there.”
“The significance of the increase in supportive MPs is that marriage equality will be achieved not by any one party but by a cross-party conscience vote in which the number of pro-equality MPs is all-important.”
Mr Croome said Australian Marriage Equality is ready to work with supporters in all parties to move the issue forward.
“We will seek to bring supportive MPs together through a cross-party working group similar to the one successfully moving the issue forward in the NSW parliament.”
“We will also be working with supporters within the Coalition to map a path towards a conscience vote, and to lobby newly-elected Coalition MPs who have yet to declare their position.”
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 9 September 2013