Advocates have welcomed moves by the NSW Labor Party to join other Labor branches and the federal party in supporting marriage equality.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,
“With support for marriage equality now at 72% it’s unsustainable and out-of-step for a major party, be it NSW Labor or the federal Coalition, to wholly oppose marriage equality.”
“Support for marriage equality from the Labor Party in Australia’s largest state will send a message that the reform is back on the agenda and momentum is building.”
A motion will be debated at next weekend’s NSW state Labor conference in support of marriage equality. If passed it will bring NSW Labor in to line with every other state Labor branch and the federal party. A separate motion will seek to bind Labor politicians to vote for marriage equality. Currently, Labor MPs are allowed a conscience vote, while Coalition policy is wholly against marriage equality.
Mr Croome welcomed moves toward a binding vote but said his group will continue to work towards a cross-party conscience vote.
“It is consistent with Labor Party rules that all Labor members should vote for marriage equality because it is a human rights issue, not an issue of life or death like abortion or euthanasia.”
“But AME continues to work towards a cross-party conscience vote and our strategy remains one of working with individual MPs and grass roots supporters in their electorates.”
At its 2012 state conference the Tasmanian state Labor Party became the first, and so far the only, state Labor branch to pass a motion in favour of a binding vote on marriage equality. Tasmania was also the first state to pass a motion in favour of marriage equality several years earlier.
On Tuesday, the Coalition’s own research company, Crosby/Textor, unveiled a national survey which found 72% of Australians support marriage equality, the highest figure ever.
For a news report on NSW Labor’s moves to marriage equality, click here.
For more on the Crosby/Textor research, click here.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 19 July 2014