Liberal MPs to push for free vote on same-sex marriage
Image: Photo: Twitter via @TurnbullMalcolm
ADVOCATES in Australia鈥檚 LGBTI community have welcomed reports that moderate Liberal MPs in favour of same-sex marriage will push for a free vote in parliament in the coming weeks.
A report by has suggested several MPs are hoping to hold a free vote as soon as March to get marriage equality off the political agenda ahead of the next election.
The politicians allegedly behind the push to bring this policy to a head include Dean Smith, Warren Entsch, Tim Wilson, Trent Zimmerman, Trevor Evans, and Melissa Price.
They argue that after the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite date passes and the is handed down, the party room should debate the issue in the second week of the parliamentary year.
Marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome welcomed the impending push by the Liberal party MPs.
鈥淎 free vote is consistent with the Liberal Party鈥檚 core principle of individual freedom and we urge Liberal members to uphold this principle regardless of what they think about marriage equality,鈥� he said.
鈥淟ast year we were repeatedly told by government representatives it would be a plebiscite or nothing.
鈥淭he challenge now is for LGBTI Australians and our allies to maintain the pressure by constantly reminding the Coalition it will lose votes at the next election if it fails to pass marriage equality soon.鈥�
Despite reports of same-sex marriage supporters in the Liberal party readying themselves to push for a free vote, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned Malcolm Turnbull against it in a separate report by .
Abbott has warned Turnbull against a free vote in parliament, saying the proposed plebiscite should remain the party鈥檚 policy.
鈥淢alcolm Turnbull made a clear election commitment that the marriage law would only change by way of people鈥檚 plebiscite, not free vote of the parliament,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure he鈥檒l honour that commitment. This isn鈥檛 about same-sex marriage, it鈥檚 about keeping faith with people.鈥�
If supporters of marriage equality in the Coalition do push for a free vote in the coming weeks they will do so taking into consideration allowing same-sex couples to be refused wedding services.
Spokesperson for just.equal Ivan Hinton-Teoh highlighted that freedom of religion is already protected and to add the additional exemptions was unnecessary.
鈥淭he cross-party bill that was introduced in 2015, and which had the support of Liberal MPs, protected religious freedom by allowing religious marriage celebrants the right not to marry same-sex couples,鈥� he said.
鈥楾hat bill didn鈥檛 include exemptions for civil celebrants and businesses and this bill shouldn鈥檛 either.
鈥淲e will not accept an old form of discrimination being swapped for a new one.鈥�
The first parliament sitting week of the year will commence tomorrow.
To send a message to Coalition MPs pushing for a free vote you can .
Someone push the frigging dinosaurs out of the way!
Look, no one, of ANY generation, wants to relive their own frigging parents- ffs!
How OLD are the MP’s in LNP/ON? So OLD that they DON’T remember this? No thanks. Old geezers need to step off. Offer wisdom, but step the eff off.
This is new gen & a new time. Get with it or get out of the way.
I stand in solidarity with the LGBTI community & will vote anti-LNP/ON depending on how they handle BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS as they pertain to their SECULAR GOV’T. I have NOTHING but disdain for religion attempting to derail our country. FULL-STOP! I am a single mum, self-employed, 56 years young w/2 voting children, both in uni.
I am ashamed of how AU is arse-kissing the INSANE & CORRUPT USA!
STOP THAT. Also, STOP SELLING “OUR” country to CHINA!!!!! LEASE, LEASE, LEASE– as THEY DO!