PALMER’S MARRIAGE PLAN LABELLED RADICAL & UNNECESSARY

PLAN WILL OFFEND 70% OF COUPLES SEEKING CIVIL MARRIAGE & COULD OPEN DOOR TO POLYGAMY

CALL ON PALMER TO RECOMMIT TO FREE VOTE

Marriage equality advocates say Clive Palmer’s new policy of handing marriage entirely to churches is a radical and complicated response to a non-problem that will offend heterosexual couples seeking to enter civil marriages.

Mr Palmer has proposed giving churches the sole right to solemnise marriages and forcing non-religious couples to enter civil unions, to avoid churches being forced to marry same-sex couples.

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,

“The simplest way to ensure churches aren’t forced to marry same-sex couples is to allow clergy to refuse to marry them.”

“The Marriage Act currently allows clergy to refuse to marry any couple who don’t conform to church doctrine and that provision should simply be expanded to include same-sex couples when marriage equality is enacted.”

“Mr Palmer’s proposal radically alters the meaning of marriage by effectively denying marriage to the 70% of Australian couples who currently marry in civil ceremonies.”

“Most opposite-sex and same-sex couples will will find Mr Palmer’s policy unnecessary complicated and offensive to their aspiration to marry.”

“Giving religious bodies a monopoly over marriage could lead to marriage being defined in ways most Australians find unacceptable, including polygamy and child marriage.”

Mr Croome welcomed Mr Palmer’s opposition to a plebiscite and called on him to re-iterate his previous commitment to a free vote for Palmer United representatives.

“All MPs, regardless of party, should be free to vote according to their own beliefs on marriage equality.”
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome