LABOR frontbencher Penny Wong has expressed her preference that the ALP provide a binding vote on same-sex marriage, as both leadership aspirants reject a call by right-wing union leader Paul Howes that the party move further on the issue.
Mr Howes, boss of the Australian Workers Union, has declared that Labor should change the party’s rules at its national conference in favour of a binding vote on gay marriage, arguing there is no place in the ALP for those who oppose marriage equality.
Senator Wong said she had long held the view that the party should vote as one in favour of marriage equality.
“In the lead-up to the 2012 ALP national conference, I made clear my personal view that equality is a matter of principle rather than a matter of conscience,” she said. “It was determined at the conference that marriage equality would be a conscience vote. Unless, and until the party determines otherwise, this remains the party’s position.”
Last night, Mr Howes said Labor should block any federal government attempt to overturn the ACT’s soon-to-be-legislated marriage equality laws.
Both Labor leadership aspirants have backed the continuation of a conscience vote on same-sex marriage, left-winger Anthony Albanese declaring he does not believe the party’s position should change.
His rival Bill Shorten disagreed with the call by Mr Howes — his friend and factional ally — to embrace a binding vote on gay marriage.
Mr Albanese told The Australian a free vote was necessary so that all views were expressed.
“My position on marriage equality has been long standing and consistent,” he said. “It’s a reform whose time has come and the parliament should act. But, equally, I believe this can best be achieved when all members and senators are given a free vote on any future legislation.”
A spokeswoman for Mr Shorten said he strongly believed a conscience vote was the way to deal with the issue. “Bill is respectful of different views and a binding vote would certainly not be consistent with his vision for a diverse, inclusive Labor Party.”
Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association boss Joe de Bruyn said Mr Howes’s comments were “strange and unusual”.
Mr Howes last night told a forum organised by the gay marriage movement in Sydney that he made a mistake when he argued at the last ALP conference in 2011 that the party should allow a conscience vote.
Opposition frontbencher Tony Burke said if Mr Howes wanted Labor to get rid of the conscience vote, he “understood little about the full breadth of support the party got across the community”.
Author: Patricia Karvelas
Publication: The Australian
Date: 3 October 2013