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Kevin Andrews says 'I don’t have a problem' with discrimination against same-sex marriage – politics live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Some breaking news from South Australia. The Labor government of Jay Weatherill has announced it’s dumping its bank tax. The bank tax was met with significant opposition when it was proposed. The Australian Bankers’ Association had vowed to take the state government to the high court. | |
“For all intents and purposes, the bank tax is dead,” Weatherill said. | |
The timing of the announcement is interesting, to say the least. | |
Well, an interesting turn in Bennelong. Keneally has turned up during campaigning by Liberal John Alexander and foreign minister Julie Bishop. I’m sure she was welcomed with open arms. The same-sex poll was interesting in Bennelong. It had the electorate fairly evenly split for and against same-sex marriage. The no camp just had it, with about 51% of the votes. | |
Meanwhile, @KKeneally has crashed John Alexander's event with Julie Bishop. Pic by @nampix #auspol #bennelong pic.twitter.com/EAhVx1RqKk | |
So the Newspoll had it at 63%, ends up being 61.6% which is basically within the margin of error. What a waste of $100m. | |
Kevin Andrews has been on Sky, talking about the bakers again. Andrews, a conservative, wants greater protections for people to discriminate against same-sex weddings. | |
Indeed, he wants Islamic bakers to be able to deny cakes to people of the Jewish faith and vice-versa. But only for weddings, so it’s OK. | |
“If that individual wants to be able do that, I don’t have a problem,” he said. | |
“But nor do I have a problem the other way around. Don’t have a problem if there was a gay baker who said, ‘I don’t want to bake a cake for a heterosexual wedding, or I don’t want to bake a cake for a Christian, or an Islamic celebration, whatever it might be’.” | |
Our intrepid photographer, Mike Bowers, was among a gathering of politicians watching the results earlier today in parliament. He’s captured, in stunning form, the elation of Labor’s Penny Wong. | Our intrepid photographer, Mike Bowers, was among a gathering of politicians watching the results earlier today in parliament. He’s captured, in stunning form, the elation of Labor’s Penny Wong. |
There is an interesting set of results for Labor out of this survey. Many Labor seats in western Sydney were distinctly in the no camp. | There is an interesting set of results for Labor out of this survey. Many Labor seats in western Sydney were distinctly in the no camp. |
That includes Blaxland, Jason Clare’s seat, which voted only 26.1% yes. Blaxland was one of nine Labor seats in western Sydney to vote no. | That includes Blaxland, Jason Clare’s seat, which voted only 26.1% yes. Blaxland was one of nine Labor seats in western Sydney to vote no. |
What does that tell us? Will voters punish their local Labor members for supporting same-sex marriage? | What does that tell us? Will voters punish their local Labor members for supporting same-sex marriage? |
No vote majority in 12 western Sydney seats (9 ALP, 3 LIB) 2 Labor seats in Melbourne (Calwell, Bruce), 2 LNP and 1 KAP seat in Queensland | No vote majority in 12 western Sydney seats (9 ALP, 3 LIB) 2 Labor seats in Melbourne (Calwell, Bruce), 2 LNP and 1 KAP seat in Queensland |
My colleague Nick Evershed has prepared an interactive map, breaking down the results electorate by electorate. Zoom into Sydney and you’ll see a distinct concentration of no votes in the western suburbs. | My colleague Nick Evershed has prepared an interactive map, breaking down the results electorate by electorate. Zoom into Sydney and you’ll see a distinct concentration of no votes in the western suburbs. |
Now, just briefly back to the politics of same-sex marriage. The yes vote has presented the Coalition with a potentially damaging choice between two bills, one proposed by moderate, Dean Smith, and another from James Paterson, which has the backing of conservatives. The debate is likely to take place in the week of 27 November. | Now, just briefly back to the politics of same-sex marriage. The yes vote has presented the Coalition with a potentially damaging choice between two bills, one proposed by moderate, Dean Smith, and another from James Paterson, which has the backing of conservatives. The debate is likely to take place in the week of 27 November. |
Smith has just said his bill was borne out of a committee process, has been discussed for months, and is fair and reasonable. | Smith has just said his bill was borne out of a committee process, has been discussed for months, and is fair and reasonable. |
“If there are amendments, let’s see them, but let’s be clear about this: Australians did not participate in a survey to have one discrimination plank removed, to have other planks of discrimination piled upon them,” Smith said. “They said no [to discrimination]. They said no clearly.” | “If there are amendments, let’s see them, but let’s be clear about this: Australians did not participate in a survey to have one discrimination plank removed, to have other planks of discrimination piled upon them,” Smith said. “They said no [to discrimination]. They said no clearly.” |
Other conservatives – Eric Abetz and Matt Canavan – have expressed support for Paterson’s bill, which gives greater religious protections for those who don’t want to provide goods or services to same-sex weddings. Bakers or florists, for example, could refuse to do work for same-sex weddings. Conservative Mathias Cormann spoke earlier. He said the Smith bill is a good place to start, but he wants amendments to improve religious protections. | Other conservatives – Eric Abetz and Matt Canavan – have expressed support for Paterson’s bill, which gives greater religious protections for those who don’t want to provide goods or services to same-sex weddings. Bakers or florists, for example, could refuse to do work for same-sex weddings. Conservative Mathias Cormann spoke earlier. He said the Smith bill is a good place to start, but he wants amendments to improve religious protections. |
“I believe the Smith bill is a good starting point and indeed a number of senators have given notices that they will seek to introduce the Smith bill into the Senate this afternoon,” he said. “I do believe that there is a need for some additional religious protections. I am not going to go into the specifics today | “I believe the Smith bill is a good starting point and indeed a number of senators have given notices that they will seek to introduce the Smith bill into the Senate this afternoon,” he said. “I do believe that there is a need for some additional religious protections. I am not going to go into the specifics today |
Malcolm Turnbull has declared same-sex marriage will be made lawful by Christmas. Here’s a bit more from Turnbull this morning. | Malcolm Turnbull has declared same-sex marriage will be made lawful by Christmas. Here’s a bit more from Turnbull this morning. |
The people of Australia have spoken and I intend to make their wish the law of the land by Christmas. This is an overwhelming call for marriage equality. pic.twitter.com/PWZbH5H71r | The people of Australia have spoken and I intend to make their wish the law of the land by Christmas. This is an overwhelming call for marriage equality. pic.twitter.com/PWZbH5H71r |
In other political news, the high court hearing into the eligibility of Hollie Hughes has kicked off in Canberra. Hughes is the replacement for the former deputy nationals leader, Fiona Nash. But she faces a difficult path to the Senate. Her prior work on the administrative appeals tribunal could see her run foul of section 44 of the constitution. The section makes individuals ineligible if they hold an office of profit under the Crown. | In other political news, the high court hearing into the eligibility of Hollie Hughes has kicked off in Canberra. Hughes is the replacement for the former deputy nationals leader, Fiona Nash. But she faces a difficult path to the Senate. Her prior work on the administrative appeals tribunal could see her run foul of section 44 of the constitution. The section makes individuals ineligible if they hold an office of profit under the Crown. |
My colleague Gareth Hutchens is down at the court, and will bring us updates as they happen. We’re not expecting a decision today, but we will hear legal arguments from both sides. | My colleague Gareth Hutchens is down at the court, and will bring us updates as they happen. We’re not expecting a decision today, but we will hear legal arguments from both sides. |
An ecstatic Bill Shorten has addressed crowds in Melbourne. | An ecstatic Bill Shorten has addressed crowds in Melbourne. |
“What a fabulous day to be an Australian – because in this survey the Australian people have declared overwhelmingly Australia is ready for marriage equality,” Shorten said. | “What a fabulous day to be an Australian – because in this survey the Australian people have declared overwhelmingly Australia is ready for marriage equality,” Shorten said. |
“And I just want to make one promise: today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate.” | “And I just want to make one promise: today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate.” |
At a press conference in Canberra, Malcolm Turnbull said that Australians had “spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality”. | At a press conference in Canberra, Malcolm Turnbull said that Australians had “spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality”. |
Turnbull said the result was “unequivocal and overwhelming”, warning conservatives, including in his own government, that the public are “our masters” and the parliament must now deliver on the result. | Turnbull said the result was “unequivocal and overwhelming”, warning conservatives, including in his own government, that the public are “our masters” and the parliament must now deliver on the result. |
“They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people asked us to do and get this done,” he said, stressing the law should change before Christmas. | “They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people asked us to do and get this done,” he said, stressing the law should change before Christmas. |
Appearing alongside Turnbull, the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, said the cross-party bill is a “good starting point” but he believed “there is a need for some additional religious protections”, signalling amendments could still be contentious within the government. | Appearing alongside Turnbull, the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, said the cross-party bill is a “good starting point” but he believed “there is a need for some additional religious protections”, signalling amendments could still be contentious within the government. |
Emotional scenes in parliament during the announcement. Labor’s Penny Wong, who has campaigned tirelessly for the yes vote, breaks down at the news. | Emotional scenes in parliament during the announcement. Labor’s Penny Wong, who has campaigned tirelessly for the yes vote, breaks down at the news. |
Penny Wong reacts #auspol pic.twitter.com/Xejae6FJTr | Penny Wong reacts #auspol pic.twitter.com/Xejae6FJTr |
Penny Wong breaks down after she hears the #SSM result in P/H @GuardianAus @knausc #politicslive pic.twitter.com/28oHhROfIH | Penny Wong breaks down after she hears the #SSM result in P/H @GuardianAus @knausc #politicslive pic.twitter.com/28oHhROfIH |
The prime minister is scheduled to hold a press conference at 10.15am. He’ll be speaking with Mathias Cormann. | The prime minister is scheduled to hold a press conference at 10.15am. He’ll be speaking with Mathias Cormann. |
The results are starting to come in by electorate. Turnbull’s electorate of Wentworth delivered a staggering result for the yes camp. It returned an 80% yes vote. Just 19.2% of Turnbull’s electorate voted no. | The results are starting to come in by electorate. Turnbull’s electorate of Wentworth delivered a staggering result for the yes camp. It returned an 80% yes vote. Just 19.2% of Turnbull’s electorate voted no. |
Tony Abbott’s electorate of Warringah voted 75% yes. | Tony Abbott’s electorate of Warringah voted 75% yes. |
A number of Labor electorates returned strong no votes. One among those was Blaxland, Jason Clare’s seat, which voted 73.9% no. | A number of Labor electorates returned strong no votes. One among those was Blaxland, Jason Clare’s seat, which voted 73.9% no. |
The results are in, after what felt like a rather long statement from the chief statistician. | The results are in, after what felt like a rather long statement from the chief statistician. |
Australians have overwhelmingly voted for same-sex marriage. The results are 61.6% for yes, 38.4% for no. | Australians have overwhelmingly voted for same-sex marriage. The results are 61.6% for yes, 38.4% for no. |
Remember to follow our dedicated live blog for all of the reaction and colour from yes celebrations across the country. The link is below. I’ll be continuing my focus on parliament for the day. | Remember to follow our dedicated live blog for all of the reaction and colour from yes celebrations across the country. The link is below. I’ll be continuing my focus on parliament for the day. |