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Bill Shorten to appear at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade | Bill Shorten to appear at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade |
(7 months later) | |
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, will appear at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on 5 March, making him the first federal leader of one of the two main parties to do so. | The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, will appear at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on 5 March, making him the first federal leader of one of the two main parties to do so. |
“I’m delighted to be attending this year’s Mardi Gras with my wife, Chloe, our three children, and my Labor party colleagues to show our support for marriage equality,” Shorten said. | “I’m delighted to be attending this year’s Mardi Gras with my wife, Chloe, our three children, and my Labor party colleagues to show our support for marriage equality,” Shorten said. |
“It is time to make [marriage equality] a reality.” | “It is time to make [marriage equality] a reality.” |
It is not known whether the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will attend although recent reports suggest he will be in regional NSW on the night of the event and the next day. | It is not known whether the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will attend although recent reports suggest he will be in regional NSW on the night of the event and the next day. |
Shorten called for a free vote in parliament on same-sex marriage and said Labor did not want taxpayers to fund a “nasty and negative ‘no’ campaign against marriage equality” if the government persisted with its plan for a plebiscite after the federal election. | Shorten called for a free vote in parliament on same-sex marriage and said Labor did not want taxpayers to fund a “nasty and negative ‘no’ campaign against marriage equality” if the government persisted with its plan for a plebiscite after the federal election. |
Turnbull, who supports marriage equality, opposed holding a plebiscite when the then prime minister, Tony Abbott, suggested one at a joint party room meeting in August last year. | Turnbull, who supports marriage equality, opposed holding a plebiscite when the then prime minister, Tony Abbott, suggested one at a joint party room meeting in August last year. |
In the days after the meeting Turnbull said he opposed a plebiscite because it would mean it remained “a live issue all the way up to the next election”. | In the days after the meeting Turnbull said he opposed a plebiscite because it would mean it remained “a live issue all the way up to the next election”. |
But since becoming prime minister in September, Turnbull has maintained plans for a plebiscite. | But since becoming prime minister in September, Turnbull has maintained plans for a plebiscite. |
Shorten said: “If the new Malcolm Turnbull actually did what the old Malcolm Turnbull said, we could have marriage equality by Mardi Gras.” | Shorten said: “If the new Malcolm Turnbull actually did what the old Malcolm Turnbull said, we could have marriage equality by Mardi Gras.” |
In February last year the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, led Melbourne’s Pride March, the first time a premier had led an LGBTI march. | In February last year the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, led Melbourne’s Pride March, the first time a premier had led an LGBTI march. |
Guardian Australia has contacted Turnbull for comment. | Guardian Australia has contacted Turnbull for comment. |
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