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| Only five of Tony Abbott's Coalition MPs turned up to see Bill Shorten introduce a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia | Only five of Tony Abbott's Coalition MPs turned up to see Bill Shorten introduce a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australia’s leader of the opposition Bill Shorten introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage on Monday, backed by members of his Labour Party and spurred on by Ireland’s landmark “yes” vote last month. | Australia’s leader of the opposition Bill Shorten introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage on Monday, backed by members of his Labour Party and spurred on by Ireland’s landmark “yes” vote last month. |
| But when shorten delivered his speech on the need for marriage equality, telling parliament that “it is time,” he was speaking to a near-empty chamber: only five of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s coalition MPs had turned up to see the bill introduced. | But when shorten delivered his speech on the need for marriage equality, telling parliament that “it is time,” he was speaking to a near-empty chamber: only five of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s coalition MPs had turned up to see the bill introduced. |
| Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduces the Marriage Equality Bill to Parliament pic.twitter.com/01bEQaDpXL | Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduces the Marriage Equality Bill to Parliament pic.twitter.com/01bEQaDpXL |
| “The laws of our nation should give us hope. Our laws should tell our children what we believe. Our laws should tell strangers who Australians are,” he said, facing the bare government benches. | “The laws of our nation should give us hope. Our laws should tell our children what we believe. Our laws should tell strangers who Australians are,” he said, facing the bare government benches. |
| Gay rights activists fear that government MPs will be reluctant to back the bill when it is eventually voted on, as it could be seen as a political victory for the Labour leader over Mr Abbott. | Gay rights activists fear that government MPs will be reluctant to back the bill when it is eventually voted on, as it could be seen as a political victory for the Labour leader over Mr Abbott. |
| Just one of many FB posts asking why the Coalition failed to show up to @billshortenmp's #MarriageEquality speech. pic.twitter.com/amFPSrJXH0 | Just one of many FB posts asking why the Coalition failed to show up to @billshortenmp's #MarriageEquality speech. pic.twitter.com/amFPSrJXH0 |
| Mr Abbott, a socially conservative Catholic and staunch opponent of marriage equality, was on Monday promoting the budget while the bill was being introduced. | Mr Abbott, a socially conservative Catholic and staunch opponent of marriage equality, was on Monday promoting the budget while the bill was being introduced. |
| At a Harvey Norman shop, Mr Abbott told reporters: “I accept that same-sex marriage is a significant issue. | At a Harvey Norman shop, Mr Abbott told reporters: “I accept that same-sex marriage is a significant issue. |
| “But frankly, this government’s absolute fundamental priority… is to get the most urgent budget measures through and by far the most urgent budget measure is the small business budget boost,” he said. | “But frankly, this government’s absolute fundamental priority… is to get the most urgent budget measures through and by far the most urgent budget measure is the small business budget boost,” he said. |
| Curious tactic. May be intended as a slight to @billshortenmp but comes across as a slight to #LGBT #auspol pic.twitter.com/SeNUheL68u | Curious tactic. May be intended as a slight to @billshortenmp but comes across as a slight to #LGBT #auspol pic.twitter.com/SeNUheL68u |
| Pressure is mounting on Mr Abbott from his party’s libertarian wing and from within his own family to address marriage equality, while a survey conducted in Australia a year ago found that 72 per cent of people supported same-sex marriage. | Pressure is mounting on Mr Abbott from his party’s libertarian wing and from within his own family to address marriage equality, while a survey conducted in Australia a year ago found that 72 per cent of people supported same-sex marriage. |
| The prime minister’s sister Christine Forster is engaged to a woman, and told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “It doesn’t change the institution of marriage at all, the institution of marriage still remains being about two people committing to each other, hopefully for life, and that being legally recognised by our government.” | The prime minister’s sister Christine Forster is engaged to a woman, and told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “It doesn’t change the institution of marriage at all, the institution of marriage still remains being about two people committing to each other, hopefully for life, and that being legally recognised by our government.” |
| Additional reporting by Reuters and PA | Additional reporting by Reuters and PA |