Renewed Calls for Marriage Equality Conscience Vote
Marriage equality advocates have called on Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote on marriage equality after he declared today that “democratic political leaders have got to be conscious of the mood of the people”.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,
“With the latest opinion polls showing strong support for marriage equality and overwhelming support for a conscience vote, we call on Mr Abbott to live up to his own principles and allow Coalition members a free vote on this important, urgent and popular reform.”
A Roy Morgan poll released earlier this week showed 65% support for marriage equality and almost 80% support for a conscience vote.
Mr Abbott was speaking in the context of the Opposition’s decision to scuttle the Government’s proposal to increase taxpayer funding for elections campaigns.
Mr Croome said he is heartened by growing support among federal MPs in both major parties.
On Tuesday Victorian Labor MP, Michael Danby, wrote to his constituents committing himself to voting for marriage equality in the future, after not voting for it last year.
Yesterday, Queenland Liberal, Teresa Gambaro wrote to her constituents declaring she has been “greatly moved” by the personal stories of same-sex couples and their families and committing herself to advocating for a conscience vote.
Ms Gambaro’ office wrote she “is greatly moved by some of the personal insights that people in this situation have shared with her and understand that their desire for a traditional marriage to the person they love is genuine and heartfelt. Ms Gambaro can advise that she will advocate within the Coalition for a conscience vote on Same Sex Marriage.”
In recent weeks Victorian Liberal, Kelly O’Dwyer, former Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the youngest member of Federal Parliament, Queensland Liberal, Wyatt Roy, have all come out in support of marriage equality.
theguttertrash.com 
I know that you are keen on this Reb but it isn’t going to happen in this parliament.
So who do the pollies REALLY represent …
I believe the polls and I think this might become an election issue. Abbott would be wise to make the first move, with ‘80% support for a conscience vote’ he would be mad not to.
while l wish you well reb , don`t get your hopes up too high , voluntary euthanasia has had higher public support for much longer , and still nothing ,
when it comes to politicians doing the correct thing and voters wishes , l have no faith they will actually do it. Politicians seem to prefer to with-hold all they can from the voter, so they can keep re-using it as election `bait`
“Politicians seem to prefer to with-hold all they can from the voter, so they can keep re-using it as election `bait`”
So true.
If they actually did what the public wanted they’d render themselves irrelevant.
So instead they create false battles to divide society and keep the debate going with the support of rabid shock jocks.
It’s a disgrace…!
Nick Minchin [can’t remember where I saw him, maybe Q&Q or Drum] seemed to think it didn’t matter too much because every coalition vote is a conscience vote. He said that the dissenters could easily just cross the floor on the issue.
Why don’t they? Why are they locked into party policy?
…when it comes to politicians doing the correct thing and voters wishes , l have no faith they will actually do it. Politicians seem to prefer to with-hold all they can from the voter, so they can keep re-using it as election `bait`
Definitely need some new and progressive political parties, ones that will respect the voters wishes and pull us back from the extreme right conservative corporate deathgrip the major parties have on the citizens. I’ve always been a bit partial to the concept of Senator Online [remember to vote below the line].
http://www.senatoronline.org.au/
It appeals because it seems almost like a CIR on issues. I do however think that it would only appeal to those motivated to communicate and offer feedback on political issues [it is online though and in the comfort of your own home and time]. I also wonder how there would be protection against the deliberate ‘stacking’ on issues eg the ACL nutters & churches telling all their followers to flock to the site and vote against anything that allows any enjoyment to people.
I don’t understand how people can accept the concept of industry lobbyists [headed by ex-pollies – how lucrative for the political gravy train] yet get all bent out of shape about GetUp which actually is a true grassroots organisation for the voice of the people. Coalition barracking knobs equate GetUp with a communist organisation! A true democracy frightens the shit out of them, they much prefer the unrepresentative fascist style of democracy where pollies are the puppets of big business and the two majors stitch everything up according to the wishes of their lobbyists and party donations.
looks good armchair ,
http://www.senatoronline.org.au , will read later (tired/bookmarked)
” [remember to vote below the line]. ”
Yep , our household has come to that conclusion ,
definitely looking at putting `all-others` in front of the duopoly ,
their funding-stunt this week has only cemented in my dislike of the duopoly
Politicians seem to prefer to with-hold all they can from the voter, so they can keep re-using it as election `bait`
I’d never thought of that, 007, what a devious little mind you must enjoy!
Doesn’t that explains so much …?
What people often don’t remember or, dare I say, don’t know, that the original Greek democracy involved each PERSON to toss a black or white stone into a jar to vote on a major issue …
Now if I can transact business from my home, across the world with a, Paypal account and password … why can’t I vote on major issues from my home with a registered national voting password?
Oh … then we wouldn’t need so many
snouts in the trough politicians to “represent” us …You won’t believe this …
The other day I was telling someone at work how I was watching Leigh Sales interview someone on the 7.30 report the other night, and the response was …
“So what time is the 7.30 report on then…?”
😯
it does not matter how many public assets are disposed of in fire-sales, or how many services are removed from the public, there will never be a reduction of snouts in the trough or piggy`s to
representrepress us” So what time is the 7.30 report on then ”
and the good news is he`s a registered voter 😦
Dimmer and fkn dimmer … the world is a weary place …
I now very pleased (as opposed to quite chuffed) that my grouping this afternoon was so good (within 40mm dia @ 50m and 120mm @ 100m) …
Is WWZ a movie about our real future? Or is it here in a milder form already?
(Egads, a Queensland initiative: ‘I’m having a lesbian’ billboard launched for gay marriage campaign.)
Just a reminder, TDT had this scoop months ago …
‘Pope Francis has acknowledged the existence of a ‘gay lobby’ inside the Vatican’s secretive administration for the first time.
‘Speaking during an audience with Latin American Catholics, the Argentine Pontiff said that there was a ‘current of corruption’ in the Roman Curia – the central governing body of the Catholic Church.
‘He also admitted the existence of a long-rumoured ‘gay lobby’ in the Curia, and hinted that he might take action over the issue.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339692/Pope-admits-gay-lobby-highest-levels-Vatican.html#ixzz2VwvteqQn
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