When Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten introduced his historic marriage equality bill to parliament today, almost zero members showed up.
At first, it looked like it was just ONE. This one:
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduces the Marriage Equality Bill to Parliament pic.twitter.com/01bEQaDpXL
— ellinghausen (@ellinghausen) June 1, 2015
But here it is from another angle, and we can count another five MPs at least.
Shorten introducing his #MarriageEquality bill, most seats empty on the Coalition side. pic.twitter.com/50Z8rSTXEs
— Adam Todd (@_AdamTodd) June 1, 2015
Plus that one MP we almost missed from the first photo. So, seven. Seven MPs in total showed up to debate a bill that could finally – finally – see Australia join the rest of the free-thinking world by passing marriage equality.
Four days ago, Prime Minister Tony Abbott set the conditions for a conscience vote in the Liberal party room for same-sex marriage, which would not allow for Shorten’s private members bill to be debated.
Which, well – see above.
Call us cynical, but all of this just smacks of Tones realising marriage equality is an inevitability, and making damn sure that neither Labor nor The Greens get any of the credit.
In delivering his bill to a one-sided parliament, Shorten said:
“Let us delay no more. Let us embrace a definition of marriage that respects, values and includes every Australian. Let us declare, in the house of the Australian people – it is time. The right time to make marriage equality a reality.”
You can read his speech in full here.
Image: Stefan Postles via Getty Images.
