Rudd attempts to mute marriage issue
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Australian Rainbow Labor spokesperson, Matthew Loader has responded in the wake of Kevin Rudd’s comments the party won’t be budged on the gay marriage issue.
This is exactly the type of issue the Labor Party conference should be prepared to engage with, he said.
Hiding behind the statement that is our existing policy will no longer satisfy the majority of Australians who support recognising same-sex marriage.
Community support for the official and symbolic recognition of same sex relationships is growing – the Labor party needs to change with the community’s views…this fight isn’t going to go away.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has already clamped down on the push for gay marriage ahead of tomorrow’s ALP National Conference.
According to a report in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, Rudd has instructed Labor Party powerbrokers not to make any advances on changes to same-sex relationship rights including a national civil union scheme, or marriage.
There were initial fears among lobbyists the relationship equality issue would not gain traction during talks, however it has now emerged as a potentially divisive one for conference delegates.
SMH reports that party factions met separately yesterday to thrash out their positions in the lead-up, with the controlling Right elements of the party decided not make any change to Labor’s existing policy that marriage remain between a man and a woman.
The report said the party’s Left powerbrokers were confident they could persuade Rainbow Labor to abandon plans to put a motion to the conference calling for gay marriage, instead preferring a behind the scenes push.
Yesterday, Rudd told ABC radio he would not be moved on the issue.
I fully accept that its a matter of controversy and there’ll be debate – and there should be – this is an open society where we can debate and discuss these matters, he said.
We’ve simply reflected our view and my view as to what the proper arrangements are under the Marriage Act, but in terms of other discriminations we have acted rapidly to remove those under various items of Federal legislation.
How did i vote for this man ?!
Stupid decision .
It is such a shame in this day and age that there is still a debate over this issue.
Same-sex couple getting married do not have any impact on my second marriage!
It’s time to move out of the dark ages. Some one said, “When we figure out what to do about all the people on this planet who hate each other is when we should begin to worry about the ones who love each other.”
/Canadian
Rudd has done so so much to give us equality (in everything except marriage)
He even went beyond the HREOC recommendations to investigate further our areas of discrimination
Nineteen different government departments were involved in giving us practical equality last year
I think he deserves a pat on the back
It is right, as Anthony Albanese said – we don’t have what we want – but we have what we need
the only thing outstanding is an easy way to prove our relationship exists – and relationship registration at the state level is open to NSW
But will u vote Greens 1 and Liberals 2 Hmmmm?
I am not an idiot. There are more people who go to Mardi Gras then go to Church. I will never vote for Labor. Greens are the only choice for equal love.
Rudd, even more than Howard, is a slave to his fundamental and deeply held personal religious beliefs. We all are in a way. I have no religious beliefs and probably 80% of visitors to this site would be the same. So gay marriage simply does not hold any adverse issues for us. I think Rudd has done the best that he can given his handicap. He’s made gay relationships fair and equal as far as taxation and social security goes but he can’t come at it where love and personal commitment are involved. So…time to move on and look at the system in which is operates and vote him out. The Australian Sex Party was set up to deal with this and another half a dozen major sex, gender and censorship issues. if we can get candidates elected to the Senate we would push gay marriage up the front of the policy debate at every available opportunity. That’s what it will take to get it over the line. Someone in the federal parliament who is in there just for these major issues.
No marriage = No Kevin Rudd in office at the next election to get my vote!
I had a bet with a friend that the marriage debate would not even get to the floor of the meeting and looks like I might have won. This is a very conservative labour party (sorry the KRudd party) not wanting to cause any waves with a possible double dissolution election on the way. Get out on August 1 and let them know about it (avoiding the rambling CAAH representative speech). They might even shock me and stick the the point at hand.
“but in terms of OTHER discriminations we have acted rapidly”…nice to see that Mr Rudd ADMITS that the current Marriage Act IS discriminatary to same sex couples…
When is a journalist/interviewer going to finally challenge the PM to explain why he opposes same-sex marriage without letting him use the Marriage Act as a shield?.
Debate what precisely? This is nothing other than bigotry!