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| Tony Abbott rejects calls for referendum on gay marriage after Ireland's historic vote | Tony Abbott rejects calls for referendum on gay marriage after Ireland's historic vote |
| (7 months later) | |
| The Australian prime minister has rejected calls for a referendum on same-sex marriage, in the wake of Ireland’s historic vote to approve the measure. | The Australian prime minister has rejected calls for a referendum on same-sex marriage, in the wake of Ireland’s historic vote to approve the measure. |
| Tony Abbott said the federal parliament would deal with any changes to the law that were brought before it and stressed referendums were reserved for constitutional changes in Australia. | Tony Abbott said the federal parliament would deal with any changes to the law that were brought before it and stressed referendums were reserved for constitutional changes in Australia. |
| “I don't think anyone is suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect,” he said. | “I don't think anyone is suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect,” he said. |
| Mr Abbott is a long-standing opponent of gay marriage, but his latest intervention has provoked criticism in some quarters and, predictably, on social media. | Mr Abbott is a long-standing opponent of gay marriage, but his latest intervention has provoked criticism in some quarters and, predictably, on social media. |
| Bill Shorten, the opposition leader who supports gay marriage, also ruled out a referendum but called for parliament to legislate on the matter, calling the prime minister an obstacle to equality. | Bill Shorten, the opposition leader who supports gay marriage, also ruled out a referendum but called for parliament to legislate on the matter, calling the prime minister an obstacle to equality. |
| “If the Irish people can vote in favour of marriage equality, the question has to be asked, what is Tony Abbott's problem with it?” he told ABC News. | “If the Irish people can vote in favour of marriage equality, the question has to be asked, what is Tony Abbott's problem with it?” he told ABC News. |
| “Most places in the world are dealing with marriage equality, why is Tony Abbott stopping Australia becoming a more modern nation?” | |
| Australia is now the only major developed, English-speaking country in the world that bans same-sex couples from marrying anywhere within its borders. | Australia is now the only major developed, English-speaking country in the world that bans same-sex couples from marrying anywhere within its borders. |
| On Friday Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage by a referendum, in which 62.1 per cent of voters backed the change. | On Friday Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage by a referendum, in which 62.1 per cent of voters backed the change. |
| All bar one of Ireland’s 43 constituencies voted “yes” to amending the constitution, a result activists in the Catholic country called a “social revolution”. | All bar one of Ireland’s 43 constituencies voted “yes” to amending the constitution, a result activists in the Catholic country called a “social revolution”. |
| Enda Kenny, Ireland’s prime minister, said after the result was declared: “With today's vote, we have disclosed who we are: a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people.” | Enda Kenny, Ireland’s prime minister, said after the result was declared: “With today's vote, we have disclosed who we are: a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people.” |