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Labor aims to recruit renegade Coalition MPs in push for marriage equality by mardi gras Labor aims to recruit renegade Coalition MPs in push for marriage equality by Mardi Gras
(about 3 hours later)
Labor is urging renegade MPs inside the government who support same-sex marriage to mobilise quickly in coming weeks, saying legislation could be changed in time for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras if they seized the opportunity.Labor is urging renegade MPs inside the government who support same-sex marriage to mobilise quickly in coming weeks, saying legislation could be changed in time for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras if they seized the opportunity.
Same-sex marriage campaigners are also renewing their push for a change, with a new advertising blitz targeting the government to allow MPs a free vote on the issue of same-sex marriage.Same-sex marriage campaigners are also renewing their push for a change, with a new advertising blitz targeting the government to allow MPs a free vote on the issue of same-sex marriage.
The Labor MP Terri Butler has urged all parliamentarians who support same-sex marriage to act quickly following news some Liberal party MPs are considering a fresh push for a free vote on the floor of parliament.The Labor MP Terri Butler has urged all parliamentarians who support same-sex marriage to act quickly following news some Liberal party MPs are considering a fresh push for a free vote on the floor of parliament.
“We can get this done now,” Butler said on Sunday. “We can have marriage equality before mardis gras [on 28 February]. All it’s going to take is a free vote on the floor of the parliament on a bill to amend the Marriage Act.“We can get this done now,” Butler said on Sunday. “We can have marriage equality before mardis gras [on 28 February]. All it’s going to take is a free vote on the floor of the parliament on a bill to amend the Marriage Act.
“Those who are really passionate about it are sick of us fighting about how to do it and just want it done.“Those who are really passionate about it are sick of us fighting about how to do it and just want it done.
“And those for whom it’s a second or third or fourth order issue, they’re also sick of us fighting about it. They want us to be talking about other things.”“And those for whom it’s a second or third or fourth order issue, they’re also sick of us fighting about it. They want us to be talking about other things.”
A group of Coalition backbenchers are reportedly working to bring same-sex marriage to a head in the next fortnight.A group of Coalition backbenchers are reportedly working to bring same-sex marriage to a head in the next fortnight.
The news prompted the former prime minister Tony Abbott to warn the government against abandoning a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, saying it would break a key election promise.The news prompted the former prime minister Tony Abbott to warn the government against abandoning a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, saying it would break a key election promise.
“Malcolm Turnbull made a clear election commitment that the marriage law would only change by way of people’s plebiscite, not free vote of the parliament,” Abbott told Fairfax Media. “I’m sure he’ll honour that commitment. This isn’t about same-sex marriage, it’s about keeping faith with the people.”“Malcolm Turnbull made a clear election commitment that the marriage law would only change by way of people’s plebiscite, not free vote of the parliament,” Abbott told Fairfax Media. “I’m sure he’ll honour that commitment. This isn’t about same-sex marriage, it’s about keeping faith with the people.”
Same-sex marriage campaigners launched the new Equality Campaign on Sunday, the biggest marriage equality campaign Australia has held.Same-sex marriage campaigners launched the new Equality Campaign on Sunday, the biggest marriage equality campaign Australia has held.
Featuring a national television commercial across all channels, a far-reaching billboard and digital advertising, the campaign is designed to pressure the government to allow MPs a free vote on the issue of same-sex marriage.Featuring a national television commercial across all channels, a far-reaching billboard and digital advertising, the campaign is designed to pressure the government to allow MPs a free vote on the issue of same-sex marriage.
Their ads feature people from some of Australia’s most trusted professions – a nurse, firefighter, lifesaver, and soldier – to ask why they cannot marry the person they love in the country they serve.Their ads feature people from some of Australia’s most trusted professions – a nurse, firefighter, lifesaver, and soldier – to ask why they cannot marry the person they love in the country they serve.
“We can put our lives on the line. We can stand the heat. We can nurse you back to health. So why can’t we get married?” the workers ask in the television advertisement.“We can put our lives on the line. We can stand the heat. We can nurse you back to health. So why can’t we get married?” the workers ask in the television advertisement.
Australian Marriage Equality’s national spokeswoman, Shirleene Robinson, said the campaign reminded MPs that Australia had made up its mind and the issue was not going away.Australian Marriage Equality’s national spokeswoman, Shirleene Robinson, said the campaign reminded MPs that Australia had made up its mind and the issue was not going away.
“Two-thirds of Australians as well as a majority of politicians want every Australian to be able to marry the person they love,” she said.“Two-thirds of Australians as well as a majority of politicians want every Australian to be able to marry the person they love,” she said.
“Marriage equality will not change anything for the vast majority of Australians but will make a profound difference to the status and dignity of many.“Marriage equality will not change anything for the vast majority of Australians but will make a profound difference to the status and dignity of many.
“If MPs and senators were able to have a straight up vote on marriage equality it would pass comfortably. It is only the world of party politics that is preventing the wishes of the Australian people from taking place.”“If MPs and senators were able to have a straight up vote on marriage equality it would pass comfortably. It is only the world of party politics that is preventing the wishes of the Australian people from taking place.”
Several conservatives inside the Coalition have pushed back against their colleagues’ latest push for a free vote, with the Sydney Liberal MP Craig Kelly arguing that allowing a free vote on the issue would be a “betrayal” of the Coalition’s election commitment to hold a plebiscite.Several conservatives inside the Coalition have pushed back against their colleagues’ latest push for a free vote, with the Sydney Liberal MP Craig Kelly arguing that allowing a free vote on the issue would be a “betrayal” of the Coalition’s election commitment to hold a plebiscite.
“To backtrack and reverse on such a clear election promise during this parliamentary term would be a betrayal of the voting public,” he said on Saturday.“To backtrack and reverse on such a clear election promise during this parliamentary term would be a betrayal of the voting public,” he said on Saturday.