Federal Communication Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reportedly told a forum in Sydney that he expects Liberal MP’s to be granted a conscience vote on the issue of marriage equality before the end of the year.
Speaking to a community forum in the outer Sydney suburb of Penrith that he expects that the issue of marriage equality will come before the parliament before the end of 2015 and that Liberal MP’s will be given a conscience vote on the issue.
Last month their was anticipation that the Liberal Party Room meeting would discuss the issue of allowing a conscience vote. Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonjhelm had proposed to bring his marriage bill forward for debate, but the issue was not put on the meeting’s agenda. Subsequently Senator Leyonjhelm held back the debate on the bill.
Prior to the federal election the Prime Minister Mr Abbott has suggested that the issue would be “one for the party room”, but later appeared to distance himself from those comments.
Turnbull, who has often declared his support for marriage equality, represents the seat of Wentworth in inner city Sydney.
Also at the forum was local member Fiona Scott. Scott told attendees she would reflect the views of her electorate if marriage equality was raised again in the federal parliament.
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