Abbott Says He’d Support Any Plebiscite Result Despite Anti-SSM Speech

There are two ways to take Tony Abbott’s renewed, staunch stance on accepting the (more than likely positive) results of a plebiscite on gay marriage:

• He’s sticking to his guns, ’cause the plebiscite idea was his in the first place. It’s the ultimate political coin-flip, and if Australia’s decision doesn’t line up with his notably outspoken views on the matter, well, he can keep his right-wing cred;
• Maybe, just maybe, the results of his recent jaunt to the US to speak on the matter – and his sister’s rebuke – might have just softened Tones to the idea that representing the people means representing the people. 

Either way, in an interview on Sky News this morning, the Member for Warringah / definitely ex-Prime Minister said despite his speech, in which he said “we shouldn’t try to change something without understanding it, without grasping why it is that one man and one woman,” he’d support whatever the people chose. 

Abbott to support plebiscite decision https://t.co/NyU4wZa56F pic.twitter.com/9nDQFS4xMe

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) January 30, 2016

No Captains’ Calls here, no sirree.

In fact, in the light of other Liberal ministers saying they wouldn’t uphold the decision if it passed, Abbott’s comments seem almost… centrist. Maybe he’s confused. Maybe he’s had a change of heart. Maybe he just wants to continue staking his political claim by latching on to one of his final, lasting actions in the top job. 

No date on a plebiscite has been set, as the current government is yet to decide on the actual nitty-gritty of what we’ll be voting on. Until then, well, we have this guy to keep us on our toes. Again.

Source: Fairfax / Sky News / The Guardian. 
Photo: Stefan Postles / Getty.