Gay marriage back on Australian agenda after US ruling – Christopher Pyne
Gay marriage will likely be back on the agenda when parliament
resumes after the winter break, and a vote should be held before the
next election, cabinet minister Christopher Pyne says.
The US supreme court ruled on Friday
that marriage equality was a nationwide right and would require all
states to carry out and recognise same-sex marriage, a move Pyne
described as “fascinating”.
“When we come back in spring there’s every possibility that will be
back on the agenda,” he said, adding that a vote should be held this
year.
Tony Abbott has said he hasn’t changed his mind on gay marriage and that the historic ruling is a matter for the Americans.
“What happens in the United States is obviously a matter for the
United States, just as what happened in Ireland a few weeks ago is a
matter for the Irish,” the prime minister told reporters in Melbourne on
Saturday.
“Obviously there is a community debate going on, I have views on this
subject which are pretty well known and they haven’t changed.”
The Greens say the landmark ruling in the US is the loudest call yet for marriage equality in Australia.
“We clearly have some catching up to do here,” senator Janet Rice
said. “The Greens are committed to working with our cross-party
colleagues to make sure this happens by the end of the year.”
Momentum: cumulative total of countries that have legalised same sex-marriage
replay
Labor has also backed calls for action on gay marriage following the US supreme court’s historic ruling.
In a joint statement the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, and deputy, Tanya Plibersek, said the US upheld the truth of equality for all.
“This is a joyous day in America. In Australia, let us make it a call
to action,” they said. “It’s time to make marriage equality a reality.”
The former prime minister Kevin Rudd said now was the time to act on marriage equality in Australia.
“Fantastic decision in support of marriage equality by US supreme
court,” Rudd said on Twitter on Saturday. “Time now for Oz to act.”
The US decision to nationally legalise same-sex marriage completes an
“undemocratic march” to redefine the institution and more debate is
needed in Australia before it takes the same route, the Australian
Christian Lobby has said.
The ACL’s managing director, Lyle Shelton, blamed “judicial activism”
for the ruling, which he said put the rights of adults ahead of the
rights of children, who in turn would “miss out on one of their
parents.”
“A proper democratic debate where the consequences of redefining
marriage are allowed to be put in the public square is the path
Australia should pursue,” Shelton said.
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