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Tony Abbott's Sister Set to Discuss Same Sex Marriage

Virginia Edwards and Christine Forster
Virginia Edwards and Christine Forster

Christine Forster, Tony Abbott’s openly gay sister and vocal marriage equality supporter is set to be the guest on SBS’s ‘The Observer Effect’ this evening.

This new current affairs show, hosted by award winning journalist Ellen Fanning, sees a different guest each week discuss the top news stories in depth.

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The other guests on tonight’s program are advertising mogul Harold Mitchell and journalist Rebecca Huntley.

In a week which has seen a change in Prime Minister, the passage of bills that reduce discrimination against LGBT people, more support for older LGBT people, the overturn of DOMA in the USA, and the Prime Minister’s call for opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote on the topic of same sex marriage, Ms Forster will have no shortage of topics to look at.

Ms Forster, who was elected a Liberal Councillor in 2012 was a journalist for over two decades and  is a mother of four children. The interview is expected to touch on issues including growing up with her brother Tony Abbott, her thoughts of the line between private and public life and her work to have the Occupy Sydney protest removed from Martin Place.

When the new show was announced host Ellen Fanning commented on how ‘The Observer Effect’ would be different to other current affairs programing with it’s focus on long form interviews.

“A show like this is so critical in an age dominated by 140 character messages and a dizzying 24 hour news cycle,” Fanning said. “We will give leading Australians time to reflect on the state of the nation and to vigorously debate the critical issues in this election year.”

‘The Observer Effect’ screens at 8:30pm on SBS

OIP Staff

Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed Ms Forster as Ms Forester.

 

 

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