LIBERAL Sydney councillor Christine Forster conceded her own party at a federal level was lagging behind Labor on the issue of same-sex marriage at an equality forum tonight, praising a speech delivered by AWU boss Paul Howes.
The sister of Prime Minister Tony Abbott reiterated her brother would never change his personal opinion on the subject but that those “10 per cent at the end of the spectrum” didn’t matter because the issue would be won from the middle.
She began her own remarks at the Australian Marriage Equality convened forum in deference to Paul Howes who, as revealed in The Australian today, admitted he and Labor were wrong to accept a conscience vote on gay marriage instead of a binding policy.
“Paul has made a wonderful statement … I know where we are held up as being behind the Labor Party, and we are, but this needs to change from the grassroots,” Ms Forster said.
“There is a lot of persuading that needs to happen and I would urge everyone to take their mum and dad, take their grandparents to the young Liberal MP who might reckon they have a vote to protect and convince them this is just about family. That’s all this really is.”
In a question and answer part of the evening, Mr Howes was asked what he would do with conservative Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees union boss Joe de Bruyn.
“Ah Joe… look, there are people that say Joe advocates a position that doesn’t represent his members but the same could be said of me,” Mr Howes said.
“This is not a big issue, people who don’t like it don’t have to like it. My colleagues in UK Labour are amazed that we still haven’t figured this out in Australia.
“They did it decades ago and they’re just as dysfunctional as us.
“Joe is entitled to his view but it shouldn’t mean we just wipe the issue under the table because we’re afraid of upsetting some elements within the party. I can tell you I’m very unpopular today.”
Ms Forster said the conservative side of politics needed to be won over.
“We need them on board with this and that’s what I’m working on,” she said.
AME national director Ivan Hinton, Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young also spoke at the event.
Author: Rick Morton
Publication: The Australian
Date: October 2 2013