New push for Coalition conscience vote
Marriage equality advocates are set to use the web to urge Coalition MPs to pressure Opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote on same-sex marriage.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has established a dedicated webform for supporters to email federal Coalition politicians representing their state.
鈥淲e need your help to win Coalition support for a conscience vote,鈥� AME national convenor Alex Greenwich said.
鈥淪oon their party room will debate whether they should have a conscience vote on marriage equality, which is essential if marriage equality is to pass Parliament. Now鈥檚 the time to have your voice heard!鈥�
The campaign quotes senior Liberals who have expressed support for a conscience vote, including NSW premier Barry O鈥橣arrell, South Australian Opposition leader Isobel Redmond, former Howard Government minister Amanda Vanstone, former NSW premier Nick Greiner, and federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent.
AME鈥檚 renewed push follows a call by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) urging Coalition MPs to push Abbott to allow a conscience vote.
PFLAG national spokesperson Shelley Argent wrote to MPs and launched a TV advertising campaign.
鈥淭o allow Mr Abbott鈥檚 block vote … in the expectation that the matter will be defeated and go away (which it will not) lacks the courage of leadership on such an important human right issue,鈥� Argent wrote.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 only our gay sons and lesbian daughters affected by Mr Abbott鈥檚 discriminatory stance but also us, their parents and extended family members.
鈥淥ur sons and daughters want no more or less than their straight siblings and we as their parents also want the same for them. Our same-sex attracted sons and daughters are not second-class.鈥�
Abbott has said that MPs are free to cross the floor in line with Coalition party rules. However, any member of the Opposition front bench to do so would lose his/her position in the Shadow Cabinet.
INFO:
I am an Australian who married my partner in England in 2011,what should have been the happiest day of my life was overshadowed by the fact that when I returned home to Australia I came back unmarried as this country does recognize our marriage.
In september we were reunited and she lives with me, but we are not recognized as a married couple only as de facto, only after we have lived together for 12 months can she apply for a Partener Visa, with no guarantees of success.
This should be the happiest time of our life, but how can it be, neither of us dares make any plans for the future, we dont know if we have a future, it is so unfair and worrying, it breaks my heart .
This time next year her visa could be rejected and we will be torn apart. What will we do then? How will I tell my children that their step mother who they have come to love and trust is not allowed to stay here.
How much more heartache must my kids endure?
We may be a same sex couple but our daily lives and activities are no different to straight couples, we have the same responibilities ,raising kids, school, sports,house keeping, bills,etc.
After years of saddness ,abuse and rejection from their father and my ex husband ,we have all finally found contentment ,happiness and stability in our home again,surely this is all that is important in any family regardless of gender.