Queensland MP Teresa Gambaro has revealed that she will defy the Coalition party room decision and cross the floor for marriage equality.
Ms Gambaro had already pledged her support by co-sponsoring the cross-party bill for marriage equality along with fellow Lib Warren Entsch, as well as members of The Greens, Labor and Independent MPs.
The bill which is due to reach Parliament on Monday faces defeat as the Coalition last Tuesday voted against independent conscience votes for members of both parties.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he would be disappointed if members went against party policy, though traditionally backbenchers are free to vote of their own volition.
Ms Gambaro joins Mr Entsch, out WA Senator Dean Smith and Queensland MP Wyatt Roy in vowing to defy the party room decision.
“I commend the statements made by my Liberal Party parliamentary colleagues Warren Entsch, Wyatt Roy and Senator Dean Smith and confirm that, in accordance with the great traditions and principles of liberalism and individual choice upon which the Liberal Party was founded, I too intend to exercise the full liberties available to me as a Liberal backbencher and will cross the floor in support of the bill,” Ms Gambaro said.
Proponents of marriage equality have condemned calls for a referendum or plebiscite as unnecessary and an excessive cost to the taxpayer.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tanya Plibersek has called such suggestions a “delaying tactic for something we know the Australian people want.”
“We know that the people who are pushing for a referendum in the Liberal Party are opponents of Marriage Equality,” Ms Plibersek announced, “They’re doing it because they want to delay and hopefully prevent marriage equality ever becoming a reality.”
Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison appeared on ABC’s ‘7:30 Report’ last night, declaring his support for a marriage equality referendum.
OIP Staff
