Same-sex marriage bill to be introduced by Labor despite PM's nod to consensus
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Version 0 of 1. Labor will push ahead with the introduction of a same-sex marriage bill on Monday, despite the prime minister Tony Abbott offering an olive branch on cross-party consultation on the issue. Abbott, a staunch opponent of gay marriage, changed his framing of the issue during Wednesday’s question time. He has consistently said that the decision to change the Liberal party’s stance on same-sex marriage, which he opposes, would come from the party room. On Wednesday, he indicated that change would come through a consensus approach. Related: PM shifts language on gay marriage as Coalition attacks Labor's timing “A big decision on a matter such as this, it ought to be owned by the parliament and not by any particular party. I would ask the leader of the opposition and all members of parliament to consider this as we ponder these subjects in the weeks and months to come,” Abbott told parliament on Wednesday. When asked on ABC radio if Labor would continue with its plans to introduce the private members’ bill, the deputy leader and bill co-sponsor Tanya Plibersek said, “certainly we will”. She continued, “but we are completely open to talking about co-sponsorship or any other measure that makes it easier for this to be acceptable and for a free vote to be achieved in the Liberal party room.” The opposition leader Bill Shorten, the bill’s other co-sponsor, agreed that the matter should be a bipartisan one, but said that Labor had sparked momentum on reforms that were stalling under the Coalition. We are completely open to talking about co-sponsorship “It shouldn’t be a Liberal issue or a Labor issue. But if Labor hadn’t put it on the agenda, if I and Tanya hadn’t proposed this bill on amending the Marriage Act to support marriage equality, do any of you seriously think we’d be talking about this today?” he asked reporters on Thursday. But Shorten indicated that Labor would work with the government on shaping legislation in the future. “Once they allow a free vote, I think all things are possible,” the opposition leader said. Former Coalition whip and gay marriage supporter Warren Entsch wants to bring forward discussion in the party room on a conscience vote in August, saying that giving the issue some breathing space is the best way of ensuring its success. He will continue his cross-party consultations on the issue. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young will facilitate bipartisan consultation on same-sex marriage on Monday, to coincide with the introduction of Labor’s bill. On Wednesday night, the treasurer Joe Hockey echoed the prime minister’s sentiments on achieving consensus. “The best way for this to be dealt with fairly is to ensure that it’s not owned by any one person,” Hockey told ABC Radio. “This has got to be a community response, a genuine community response.” Fellow frontbencher, the agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, has reaffirmed his opposition to gay marriage. “I believe in traditional marriage, and that never gets you friends,” he said. |