Liberal Senator Dean Smith and Wyatt Roy MP have sworn to vote in favour of marriage equality and are urging the government to allow a vote on Monday’s cross-party bill despite warnings from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
The bill was introduced by Liberal National MP Warren Entsch on Tuesday which resulted in the Coalition voting to bind all members to vote against marriage equality legislation.
While backbenchers are free to cross the floor and vote against party policy, Mr Abbott says he would be disappointed should any members of the Coalition take such action.
WA Senator Dean Smith, the Liberal Party’s first openly gay federal representative, says he is disappointed that the party had broken tradition by denying a free vote.
“I am disappointed there has been such a significant departure from the previous custom and practice of the Parliamentary Liberal Party,” he said.
“In contemporary Australian society, it is no longer defensible for the state to deny proper and equal recognition of a marriage between two consenting adults, simply based on their sexuality,” Senator Smith says, “I intend to use the full liberties available to me as a government backbencher senator to support same sex marriage if a private member’s bill comes before the Senate.”
Wyatt Roy MP: “I’m for same sex marriage and nothing will change that”
Member for the Queensland electorate of Longman and Parliament’s youngest member Wyatt Roy told Buzzfeed News that he feels “quite comfortable” to cross the floor should the bill hit the floor.
“I’m from a very socially conservative Queensland electorate but I told my constituents when I was first elected, I’m for same sex marriage and nothing will change that,” Mr Roy said. The 25-year-old believes that the issue is something that “Parliament can deal with,” dismissing calls from fellow Liberals pushing for a plebiscite or referendum.
More Liberals show support for marriage equality
Other members of the Coalition have been showing their support for changes to the Marriage Act, changing their stance in light of public and peer opinion.
Member for La Trobe Jason Wood MP surveyed his electorate using the hashtag #LATROBEVOTES, garnering over 5,000 responses.
“In the past, I opposed same-sex marriage, however for a number of reasons I now support same-sex marriage,” Mr Wood said, “As I have changed my position since the last election, I believed that rather than vote on my changed conscience, I would seek the conscience of my electorate.”
Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome has lauded these politicians as “true Liberals”, suggesting other members of the Coalition should follow their lead.
“Dean Smith and Wyatt Roy are heroes, not only to the millions of Australians who believe in marriage equality, but to the many Coalition voters and members who believe in freedom of conscience.”
“Every civil rights movement in history has moved forward thanks to individuals with the courage to stand up for their beliefs,” Mr Croome said.
AME and Mr Croome dismiss suggestions that the debate be put to referendum, deeming the move “unnecessary”.
“There is no need to have a referendum because outstanding constitutional questions were settled by the High Court in 2013,” Mr Croome said.
“There is no need to complicate a reform that can be achieved by a simple, straightforward amendment to the Marriage Act.”
OIP Staff
Read More
13-08-2015 WA MP Ken Wyatt against marriage equality
12-08-2015 AME insist marriage plebiscite must guide next election
11-08-2015 Abbott lacks leadership – The Greens
