ADVOCATES SUPPORT WILKIE’S CALL FOR FREE VOTE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Media Release
Monday August 30th 2010

ADVOCATES SUPPORT WILKIE’S CALL FOR FREE VOTE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
MAJOR PARTIES AND OTHER INDEPENDENTS URGED TO FOLLOW WILKIE’S LEAD

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has welcomed Tasmanian Independent Andrew Wilkie’s inclusion of a conscience vote on same-sex marriage on his priority list for meetings today with the leaders of both major parties, and has called on both major parties to grant the request.

AME National Convener, Alex Greenwich, said Mr Wilkie is showing he is a true independent by promoting more open and transparent debate on a key social issue.

“During the election campaign marriage equality was repeatedly raised in public forums by ordinary Australians who are keen to discuss it, but to have a corresponding debate in Parliament will require a conscience vote.”

“It is uncertain if marriage equality would be achieved with a conscience vote, but it is certain that without a conscience vote the issue will not even be properly debated.”

Mr Greenwich called on both major parties and the other independents to follow Mr Wilkie’s lead.

“A conscience vote will allow the large number of Labor and Liberal MPs who support equality to better represent the majority of Australians who do too.”

“If the other independents truly wish to see Parliament become more than a rubber stamp for the major parties they will also follow Mr Wilkie’s lead and start promoting a conscience vote.”

“Under Howard and Rudd, parliamentary debate on marriage equality was repeatedly shut down, but with a conscience vote we have a real chance to allow an issue that deeply affects tens of thousands of loving couples and their families to be discussed in an open and mature way”.

In 2009 Green Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, introduced a Bill allowing same-sex marriages which was referred to a Senate committee for further consideration. But despite the inquiry receiving more submissions than any other Senate inquiry in history, including 11,000 from supports of reform, the Bill was barely debated before summarily voted down.
Alex Greenwich, Australian Marriage Equality