Pressure builds on Australian government as gay marriage support grows

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has brushed off mounting pressure for a parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage from within his conservative coalition, saying he was more focused on the economy and security. A marriage equality bill is set to be proposed by a Liberal Party backbencher when parliament returns in August, seconded by an opposition Labor representative, with other co-sponsors from multiple parties. Abbott, a staunch Catholic against changes to the Marriage Act, acknowledged that same-sex marriage was an “important issue” but said the private member’s bill was unlikely to be debated and voted on.

I welcome this sign of progress. I hope it means Tony Abbott will finally grant Liberal MPs a free vote on the legislation.

Labor leader Bill Shorten

The push to put the issue in the spotlight came after the United States Supreme Court’s recent landmark ruling legalising same-sex marriage nationwide, and Ireland’s referendum in favour of gay marriage. Abbott, who has a gay sister, said his government was “absolutely focused on the things that we were elected for” such as jobs growth and securing the country against “various challenges at home and abroad”. A poll last year found that support for same-sex marriage in Australia had reached a record high, with 72% supporting marriage equality and about half of those strongly supporting it.

I have been in the parliament now for 21 years and there’s only been from memory two or three occasions when a private member’s bill has come on for debate and vote.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Politics Gay marriage