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Australian senator resigns after comparing gay marriage to bestiality | Australian senator resigns after comparing gay marriage to bestiality |
(7 months later) | |
An Australian senator has resigned from the opposition's frontbench team after he provoked outrage by comparing gay marriage to bestiality. | An Australian senator has resigned from the opposition's frontbench team after he provoked outrage by comparing gay marriage to bestiality. |
Cory Bernardi also warned that allowing same-sex unions could lead to calls to legalise polygamy, during a debate in the senate on Tuesday. | Cory Bernardi also warned that allowing same-sex unions could lead to calls to legalise polygamy, during a debate in the senate on Tuesday. |
"The next step, quite frankly, is having three people or four people that love each other being able to enter into a permanent union endorsed by society – or any other type of relationship," he said. | "The next step, quite frankly, is having three people or four people that love each other being able to enter into a permanent union endorsed by society – or any other type of relationship," he said. |
"There are even some creepy people out there … [who] say it is OK to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. | "There are even some creepy people out there … [who] say it is OK to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. |
"Will that be a future step? In the future, will we say: 'These two creatures love each other, and maybe they should be able to be joined in a union'? I think that these things are the next step." | "Will that be a future step? In the future, will we say: 'These two creatures love each other, and maybe they should be able to be joined in a union'? I think that these things are the next step." |
In a subsequent radio interview, he stood by his comments, telling ABC: "We've already had complaints from those in the polyamorous community about [how] this will discriminate against them." | In a subsequent radio interview, he stood by his comments, telling ABC: "We've already had complaints from those in the polyamorous community about [how] this will discriminate against them." |
Bernardi stood down as the parliamentary secretary of the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, after criticism of his comments from across the political spectrum. | Bernardi stood down as the parliamentary secretary of the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, after criticism of his comments from across the political spectrum. |
The centre-right coalition of which Abbott's Liberal party is part opposes gay marriage, but Abbott said of Bernardi's remarks: "They are views that I don't share. They are views that many people will find repugnant." He said Bernardi had offered his resignation during a forthright discussion. | The centre-right coalition of which Abbott's Liberal party is part opposes gay marriage, but Abbott said of Bernardi's remarks: "They are views that I don't share. They are views that many people will find repugnant." He said Bernardi had offered his resignation during a forthright discussion. |
Labor and the Greens had called on Abbott to sack the senator, who has attracted controversy in the past for his views on multiculturalism, asylum seekers and climate change. | Labor and the Greens had called on Abbott to sack the senator, who has attracted controversy in the past for his views on multiculturalism, asylum seekers and climate change. |
In 2010, Bernardi called for the burqa to be banned in public, and last year he said, in a radio interview: "Islam itself is the problem." Abbott criticised those comments. After Bernardi's remarks about gay marriage, the opposition leader said he had "swiftly concluded that was one mistake too many". | In 2010, Bernardi called for the burqa to be banned in public, and last year he said, in a radio interview: "Islam itself is the problem." Abbott criticised those comments. After Bernardi's remarks about gay marriage, the opposition leader said he had "swiftly concluded that was one mistake too many". |
In his resignation statement, Bernardi said he was standing down from the shadow front bench "in the interests of the coalition". He did not apologise for his remarks. | In his resignation statement, Bernardi said he was standing down from the shadow front bench "in the interests of the coalition". He did not apologise for his remarks. |
Bernardi boarded a flight to London on Wednesday morning to attend the European Young Conservative Freedom Summit, the Australian newspaper reported. | Bernardi boarded a flight to London on Wednesday morning to attend the European Young Conservative Freedom Summit, the Australian newspaper reported. |
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