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Coalition MPs attack timing of Bill Shorten's same-sex marriage bill PM shifts language on gay marriage as Coalition attacks Labor's timing
(about 2 hours later)
Some Coalition MPs have slammed the timing of Labor’s bill on same-sex marriage, saying it is a political ploy that may jeopardise the chances of government MPs being granted a conscience vote on the issue. The prime minister, Tony Abbott, has shifted his language on the issue of gay marriage, saying that it will be an issue that will be owned by the parliament, not a particular party.
On Tuesday the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, announced he would bring forward a private member’s bill in support of marriage equality to next Monday, off the back of a convincing victory for the yes vote in the Irish referendum at the weekend. “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 said during question time on Wednesday.Abbott had previously stated that the Coalition would debate the issue in the party room when a relevant bill was introduced. Pressure has been mounting on Abbott to grant a conscience vote on the issue, but the prime minister has consistently said that the issue will be settled by the Coalition party room.
In question time on Wednesday Tony Abbott softened his language on same-sex marriage, which he opposes, saying: “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’s comments in parliament come shortly after the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, announced that Labor would bring forward the introduction of its private members’ bill supporting same-sex marriages.
The bill, co-sponsored by Shorten and deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek, will be introduced in parliament on Monday morning, but will be debated at the government’s discretion at a later date.
Shorten’s announcement comes weeks before Labor’s national conference is due to debate marriage equality. “You’ve got to be cynical about Bill Shorten’s timing,” said the assistant treasurer, Josh Frydenberg.Shorten’s announcement comes weeks before Labor’s national conference is due to debate marriage equality. “You’ve got to be cynical about Bill Shorten’s timing,” said the assistant treasurer, Josh Frydenberg.
“He’s about to go into a Labor conference where the pressure was coming on him by some of his colleagues that wanted to bind the caucus to a particular vote, and he seemed to have short-circuited this by trying to put a bill into the parliament.”“He’s about to go into a Labor conference where the pressure was coming on him by some of his colleagues that wanted to bind the caucus to a particular vote, and he seemed to have short-circuited this by trying to put a bill into the parliament.”
The Coalition backbencher Warren Entsch, who has been talking with colleagues on holding conscience vote, said Shorten could be sabotaging the chances for marriage equality by rushing the bill.The Coalition backbencher Warren Entsch, who has been talking with colleagues on holding conscience vote, said Shorten could be sabotaging the chances for marriage equality by rushing the bill.
“You’d wonder whether or not he’s just trying to destroy the opportunity,” Entsch told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s not going to do any favours. It’s just come out of the blue.”“You’d wonder whether or not he’s just trying to destroy the opportunity,” Entsch told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s not going to do any favours. It’s just come out of the blue.”
Despite being a staunch supporter of marriage equality, Entsch has confirmed he will not support Labor’s private member’s bill.Despite being a staunch supporter of marriage equality, Entsch has confirmed he will not support Labor’s private member’s bill.
The assistant education minister, Simon Birmingham, is also a supporter of a conscience vote and had wanted movement on the issue by the end of 2015. “It is entirely counterproductive to ­elevate the partisanship of this matter,” Birmingham told the Australian newspaper. “It reeks of being about Bill Shorten’s popularity more than about achieving marriage equality.”The assistant education minister, Simon Birmingham, is also a supporter of a conscience vote and had wanted movement on the issue by the end of 2015. “It is entirely counterproductive to ­elevate the partisanship of this matter,” Birmingham told the Australian newspaper. “It reeks of being about Bill Shorten’s popularity more than about achieving marriage equality.”
Entsch met the prime minister to discuss the issue last week, saying the traditional marriage advocate was “no barrier” to party room change. Abbott has previously said it is up to the party room to decide whether or not to hold a conscience vote on marriage equality.Entsch met the prime minister to discuss the issue last week, saying the traditional marriage advocate was “no barrier” to party room change. Abbott has previously said it is up to the party room to decide whether or not to hold a conscience vote on marriage equality.
The backbencher does not believe there is the support on either side of politics to pass same-sex marriage laws right now, and wants the Coalition party room to start discussing whether to hold a conscience vote after the parliamentary winter break.The backbencher does not believe there is the support on either side of politics to pass same-sex marriage laws right now, and wants the Coalition party room to start discussing whether to hold a conscience vote after the parliamentary winter break.
“The prime minister said to me to come back with a proposal on this and I indicated that I was looking at August and he didn’t say no,” Entsch said.“The prime minister said to me to come back with a proposal on this and I indicated that I was looking at August and he didn’t say no,” Entsch said.
The deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek, who is co-sponsoring Labor’s bill, rejected claims that Shorten’s decision to bring debate forward may jeopardise marriage equality altogether.The deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek, who is co-sponsoring Labor’s bill, rejected claims that Shorten’s decision to bring debate forward may jeopardise marriage equality altogether.
“Look, I don’t think so,” she told reporters on Wednesday. “For a year, I’ve been asking for bipartisanship on my original private member’s bill. I have spoken to a number of Liberal MPs directly and asked them to co-sponsor my bill and sadly, that movement hasn’t happened.“Look, I don’t think so,” she told reporters on Wednesday. “For a year, I’ve been asking for bipartisanship on my original private member’s bill. I have spoken to a number of Liberal MPs directly and asked them to co-sponsor my bill and sadly, that movement hasn’t happened.
“I know that there are a lot of Liberal MPs who support marriage equality and I think by bringing this issue to the parliament, they have the opportunity now within their party room, to argue for a free vote in their party room.”“I know that there are a lot of Liberal MPs who support marriage equality and I think by bringing this issue to the parliament, they have the opportunity now within their party room, to argue for a free vote in their party room.”
She added: “We were simply just waiting too long. More than a year ago I asked for a co-sponsor to my bill and, without a Liberal co-sponsor, Labor has had to go it alone.”She added: “We were simply just waiting too long. More than a year ago I asked for a co-sponsor to my bill and, without a Liberal co-sponsor, Labor has had to go it alone.”
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, will write to Shorten and Abbott to urge the leaders come together and talk about how best to proceed, and the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young will convene a cross-party meeting on same-sex marriage on Monday in an attempt to build consensus on the issue.The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, will write to Shorten and Abbott to urge the leaders come together and talk about how best to proceed, and the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young will convene a cross-party meeting on same-sex marriage on Monday in an attempt to build consensus on the issue.
She too is cautious of rushing legislation before getting the numbers for the bill to pass. “There’s very much goodwill across the aisle and the chamber on getting this done this year,” she said. “There is a genuine desire to have this voted on by the end of the year.”She too is cautious of rushing legislation before getting the numbers for the bill to pass. “There’s very much goodwill across the aisle and the chamber on getting this done this year,” she said. “There is a genuine desire to have this voted on by the end of the year.”
Hanson-Young and her fellow crossbencher, the Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm, both have bills before the Senate supporting same-sex marriage.Hanson-Young and her fellow crossbencher, the Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm, both have bills before the Senate supporting same-sex marriage.
“I believe couples have a right to marry regardless of gender, and will vote in favour of it regardless of who is promoting it,” Leyonhjelm said. “However the chief difference to my bill is that the Greens bill would not allow marriage celebrants a choice about who they marry.“I believe couples have a right to marry regardless of gender, and will vote in favour of it regardless of who is promoting it,” Leyonhjelm said. “However the chief difference to my bill is that the Greens bill would not allow marriage celebrants a choice about who they marry.
“My bill has always been about reducing government intrusion. For that reason, I believe it is more likely to gain support from classical liberals in the Liberal party.”“My bill has always been about reducing government intrusion. For that reason, I believe it is more likely to gain support from classical liberals in the Liberal party.”