Gillard: we’re not behind the times
In the wake of New York鈥檚 decision to legalise same sex marriage PM Julia Gillard has denied Australia is behind the times.
At a press conference this morning the Prime Minister reaffirmed her stance on gay marriage.
鈥榃e鈥檒l make our own decisions in this country based on what鈥檚 right for Australia – my views in this area are well known,鈥� she said.
The PM addressed hundreds of delegates this morning at the biennial WA State Labor Conference at held Ascot Racegrounds. Gay marriage is just one of several topics to be debated at the conference which may create a clear split between WA Labor and the Federal Government.
In her address, the PM said she couldn鈥檛 鈥榠magine us apart鈥� as a society.
鈥業t includes the whole community,鈥� said the PM in describing the Labor party, 鈥榯ruly understanding and representing people in every place.鈥�
At the press conference, the PM denied the Federal Government was out of touch with its state branches despite different platforms on issues like same-sex marriage.
鈥業 think you鈥檒l find that around the country whether its here in Western Australia or in other places, Labor party members come to Labor party conferences full of ideas and wanting to have their say.鈥�, she said.
鈥楳y responsibility as Prime Minister, with the motions being passed here in Western Australia or whether it鈥檚 Queensland or anywhere else, is to make sure I鈥檓 making the right decisions for the nation鈥檚 future.鈥�
WA Labor delegates will vote on a motion this afternoon on whether to change their platform in support for same-sex marriage.
If the motion is passed, WA Labor will join Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory with state Labor branches that have passed motions for the Federal Government to legalise gay marriage.
While the Victorian state branch failed to pass a motion this year, it did pass a similar motion in 2009.
Benn Dorrington
Out in Perth
I would like to state on what Facts religion is not proven? its obvious,that a lot of persons do no research!i as a gay person dont agree with it! and i dont see the the religious people are Homophobic! if they are then they are being discriminated against! didnt you think of that? And by the way! with such bitterness of heart!i hope that their Ministers will not be made to carry out any Union!
It’s good to know that we are seen as second-class citizens.
You can beat around the bush all you want Julia, but basically what you’re saying is that we aren’t seen to have the same rights as even the most damaged of straight people.
So what if it’s against your beliefs? You’re the head of a COUNTRY, you shouldn’t be ruling based off of your beliefs, you should be ruling based off of what is best for the country.
Statistically, 10% of people are gay. Also, 10% of people are left-handed.
If you decided left-handed people couldn’t get married, there would be a giant uproar, riots etc, and you would be thrown out of office within a week.
Saying we can’t get married is saying that you think that we are an ‘abomination’, and that disgusts me
the sum total of her position will be summed up in the outcome of the next election which could relegate labor to a a third force in australian politics, giving abbott the prime ministership if he doesn’t fuck it up royally in the next two years (which is highly likely) and hand it back to turnbull and give the greens major party status. what we need is a socially democratic centrist party that can balance reason and progress – socially, economically and environmentally.
Gillard does not represent me. She does not represent my family. She does not represent my community. She does not represent Australia.
Her narrow racist views represent no-one but herself.
It is a disgrace to see her, in the position of our Prime Minister, go against the values of the Australian community.
If only impeachment were part of the Australian political process.
A straight ex-Labor voter
I suck c**k Julia. I also vote.
I think the fact that South Africa has gay marriage and Australia does not shows how backwards we are on this issue.
You’re a hater, Julia, pure and simple. This is only to suit some strange philosophy of those who throw money while you perform. The person who leaves me gob-smacked though, is Penny Wong – I don’t know how you can look yourself in the mirror each day love, demeaning yourself to suit Labor rhetoric whilst being an out lesbian. What gall & hypocrisy!
What we should do is this, no more Mardi Gras for NSW. The one NSW event that brings in millions upon millions each year to flood NSW’s and Australia’s coffers should be stopped until we get equality. I wonder if that uproar would sway their ‘beliefs’.
Hi Margie,
Dave has answered your question brilliantly – marriage was tranformed during the 19th Century from something any two people could enter into regardless of sexual orientation into something exclusive to straight couples. Read “The Marriage of Likeness” by John Boswell if you have any lingering doubts. Same sex attracted people who want marriage rights are pushing for only one thing – Equality. There are no shades of grey. If two women want to be married in Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney with full Catholic rites, then they should have that right. The Catholic Church are not the lawmakers in Australia. There is no doctrine, ethical law, statute, or ecclesiastical limit preventing them from committing to one another in that way – it’s just religious tradition overdue for change, and don’t they know it! If two men want to define their relationship as defacto and commit to one another that way, there is currently no law preventing them. Only straight couples have the choice between these options. Your definitions of coupling and marriage are not another’s. Same sex attracted people deserve the whole spectrum of choices as all people in this country. Anything else is discriminatory.
If this is a religious debate, then why are people able to be married by a court and not under God as intended? I think it’s pure hypocrocy. If we can accept homosexuality into our culture, then why can’t we allow same-sex marriage? I also think it’s hypocrytical for the gov’t to say that we are behind in ‘climate action’, so why can’t we be forward in this area?! Personally, think of all the overseas pink dollar!!??
Ms Gillard if you are truly representing everyone, then quit discriminating. This archaic argument and the marginalization of the gay community is ridiculous.
A traditional Marriage has always included a Same-Sex Marriage. To say this is not so is to redefine what Marriage is.
Same-Sex Marriage happened in Ancient Rome, Ancient China, in pre-Modern Europe, and even Singapore a 100 years ago. As my good Anglican Bishop said, Christianity never owned Marriage. Same-Sex Marriage happened around where Jesus is said to of lived and he never said a thing against it. But then again there is no proof Jesus ever existed.
There was a time not so long ago, when no government decided to turn up at your wedding and tell you what to do. It was up to the couple getting married, and their family and friends. Federal Labor is telling you who you should marry and spend the rest of your life with. That is abhorrent and represents a gross violation of your Civil Rights.
If Australia had a modern Bill of Rights with equality under the law we could have overturned the inequality in the Marriage Act years ago.
Marriage equality ABSOLUTELY! But to ensure and enshrine all our rights we must have a real Bill of Rights like every other western democracy!
I find it truly hard to understand why Gay people are so set on using a term for their relationship that has traditionally meant the union between a man and a woman. Why would they not prefer “parnership” or other special term that denotes their official relationship, which rightly could have the same rights under law and equal opportunities. Why the obsession to be used a term that has strong religious roots and long established social conventions. Could someone please explain?
Debate is at least out there. If only our legislators listened to the people. It is time to recognise same sex marriage and give same sex couples the same rights and recognition across Australia as other heterosexual couples. The discrimination is institutionalised and is perpetuated by an extremely disappointing Federal Government. Julia Gillard, you have the choice not to marry … same sex couples do not even have that choice. This is another Australian violation of international human rights covenants.
Sickening.
Julia Gillard doesn’t like gay marriage? Too easy – her partner is male, there’s no issue for her then.
From my viewpoint, she is perfectly in her rights to feel uncomfortable with gay marriage, we all have our phobias and quirks, but when you start forcing them onto other people, there lies the issue.
What will she lose? Marriage is no longer a sacred act in the name of god – many who don’t believe in god are married, many marry for money, status, or even jealousy, so using that as an argument is ridiculous.
Saying it’s wrong? How could it be? She has obviously never seen the true love and adoration in the eyes of a couple, whether gay or not, and wouldn’t understand it if it smacked her across the head.
I hope one day we get a prime minister who does what’s right for our country, not what is right for themselves or for their votes.
Is same sex marriage really going to ruin the “sacred constitution of marriage”?
Seriously? How many couples do you know who have divorced, how many do you know living together unmarried? (Julia?)
What about an unmarried couple with children, or an interracial couple… I’m sorry, but I think the constitution of marriage is already screwed, and letting two people who love eachother get married is not going to do a thing. Don’t like same sex marriage? Don’t get married to someone of the same sex, simple as that.
Victor,
Those of us who are same sex attracted, out, proud, and still alive, are the survivors of a terrible statistic of youth suicide in this country, where estimates are that 1 in 3 of those suicides are linked to sexual orientation. We know in our collective guts that the validation of full equality will put a much needed dent in those statistics across the next few generations of same sex attracted youth. Equality is not a partial concept. It exists or it doesn’t. If you do not understand that, you are part of the problem, and we ask you to simply step out of the way. You have nothing to lose through Parliament enacting full equality for same sex attracted people in Australia.
Julia Gillard and the Labor Party don’t wish to offend conservative Christian voters.
Oh Julia, wake up and smell the coffee!! A majority of your own party have now voted for “gay marriage”…. can you not see you are out of touch not only with ordinary Australians, but with your own party as well??!!!
Five of our eight states/territories want equal marriage rights. If WA makes the fair choice, it will be six out of eight (leaving NSW and the capital).
Mrs PM? Grow a pair and stop whimpering in the face of a few swing voters. Australia knows what it wants, knows what it needs and KNOWS WHAT’S RIGHT.
Equal marriage. Let’s follow NY’s prime example, shall we?