Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten has told reporters that he is not in favour of the Labor party having a binding vote on the issue of marriage equality.
“I think we have waited too long in this country for marriage equality,” Shorten told reporters yesterday. “I do believe that the best way to achieve it, though, is not to force people to agree with it but to convince people.”
Mr Shorten comments come after several high profile Labor members including his Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek argued that the party should change it’s position.
Currently the Labor party supports marriage equality but does not force politicians to vote in agreement with party policy.
Alongside Ms Plibersek, Labor’s shadow health spokesperson Catherine King has publicly supported a binding vote, so has the ACT’s Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
Mr Shorten’s statement has been welcomed by the Australian Christian Lobby.
The conservative Christian organisation said while it was regrettable the Labor party changed their policy in 2011, they welcomed Mr Shorten’s comments that “kept the faith” with the commitments he made to the organsiation at their national conference.
“Mr Shorten gave wise counsel for ALP delegates ahead of this years’ Labor National Conference. The way to win an argument is to persuade people, not resort to forcing them,” said ACL Managing Director, Lyle Shelton.
“There are many in the Australian community not convinced that redefining marriage is best for our society.
“Labor has a proud history of tolerance and this proposal to expel parliamentarians from the party who vote with their conscience in support of marriage would diminish that reputation.
“An important function of marriage is to provide children with every opportunity to be raised and loved by their parents, something intentionally denied by same sex marriage,” Mr Shelton said.
“No parliamentarian should be forced to vote for a family structure which requires a child to miss out on their parent.
Rodney Croome from Australian Marriage Equality said Mr Shorten’s position was disappointing.
“It is disappointing that Bill Shorten doesn’t support a binding vote, because that means he’s happy with a double standard that says Labor votes as one on all equality issues except marriage equality.
“Given Mr Shorten’s view that it’s better to convince than force, we urge him to do more to convince the significant number of Labor MPs who continue to oppose marriage equality.”
“Australians are increasingly impatient about our country falling behind other developed nations on this issue. That’s why we strongly urge marriage equality supporters in parliament to do all they can to get marriage equality through instead of arguing over which path to take.”
Labor members are set to debate the issue at the Party’s National Conference in July.
OIP Staff
