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Christine Forster, Tony Abbott's sister, faces down critic of gay parents on Q&A Christine Forster, Tony Abbott's sister, faces down critic of gay parents on Q&A
(about 5 hours later)
Tony Abbott’s sister has faced down a heckler who said same-sex marriage would hurt “innocent children”.Tony Abbott’s sister has faced down a heckler who said same-sex marriage would hurt “innocent children”.
Christine Forster wants to marry her female partner and has been vocal in her fight for a change to the Marriage Act.Christine Forster wants to marry her female partner and has been vocal in her fight for a change to the Marriage Act.
She was a guest on ABC TV’s panel show Q&A on Monday and said she “respectfully disagreed” with her brother on the subject of same-sex marriage.She was a guest on ABC TV’s panel show Q&A on Monday and said she “respectfully disagreed” with her brother on the subject of same-sex marriage.
But she was challenged by a studio audience member who disagreed rather less respectfully, interrupting Forster with shouts of: “What about the children, the innocent children?”But she was challenged by a studio audience member who disagreed rather less respectfully, interrupting Forster with shouts of: “What about the children, the innocent children?”
“If we bring this bill in, what’s going to happen to the young children who are not even going to have a mother or a father? Nature is a mother and a father,” the woman said.“If we bring this bill in, what’s going to happen to the young children who are not even going to have a mother or a father? Nature is a mother and a father,” the woman said.
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Forster, who has four children, said it was more important that children grow up in “loving, supporting families”.Forster, who has four children, said it was more important that children grow up in “loving, supporting families”.
“And with all due respect, I don’t think that is the exclusive preserve of the traditional family unit,” Forster said, to cheers and whistles from audience members.“I think children can be loved, supported and brought to their fullest potential with the most wonderful self-esteem and self-confidence and ability to make the most of themselves in same-sex families and in single-parent families.” “And with all due respect, I don’t think that is the exclusive preserve of the traditional family unit,” Forster said, to cheers and whistles from audience members.
“I think children can be loved, supported and brought to their fullest potential with the most wonderful self-esteem and self-confidence and ability to make the most of themselves in same-sex families and in single-parent families.”
Earlier in the program she dismissed Labor leader Bill Shorten’s same-sex marriage bill, saying a bipartisan bill was needed.Earlier in the program she dismissed Labor leader Bill Shorten’s same-sex marriage bill, saying a bipartisan bill was needed.
“I think Shorten’s bill was a piece of unfortunate politicking with an issue that is too important to be a political football,” she said.“I think Shorten’s bill was a piece of unfortunate politicking with an issue that is too important to be a political football,” she said.
On Tuesday a former Liberal minister said he wanted a referendum on legalising gay marriage.On Tuesday a former Liberal minister said he wanted a referendum on legalising gay marriage.
Peter Reith, a minister in the Howard government, said the issue of same-sex marriage has the potential to split both major political parties despite there being a strong sense in the community that it’s time for change.Peter Reith, a minister in the Howard government, said the issue of same-sex marriage has the potential to split both major political parties despite there being a strong sense in the community that it’s time for change.
Calling a plebiscite on the issue could break the impasse and end up being a bonus for prime minister Abbott, Reith told ABC radio on Tuesday.Calling a plebiscite on the issue could break the impasse and end up being a bonus for prime minister Abbott, Reith told ABC radio on Tuesday.