Despite Parliament currently riding out its winter break, there’s one topic that’s burning through the national agenda like never before.
Today, addition to the debate comes from even closer quarters to Tony Abbott‘s increasingly shambolic cabinet and party room: directly from his openly gay, Liberal City of Sydney Concillor sister Christine Forster, who has urged the government to take action on the marriage equality bill, and allow the passage of a conscience vote for the Liberal party. Foster said timing was key, as the issue is now reaching fever pitch, saying, “debate is now raging between opponents and proponents.”
“The cross-party private member’s bill needs to be listed for debate in the parliament, which would in turn trigger discussion within the party room. If that doesn’t happen it’s my view the issue needs to be raised for debate in the party room.
“This is something that as a party we need to define – and hopefully redefine it – our position on, that marriage is an issue on which members can exercise their consciences.”
On Thursday, Tony Abbott exercised his ability as a truly skilful deflector—which, at this point, could well rival an impassioned Link in the face of those GD Deku Scrubs plaguing the Deku Tree in The Ocarina of Time—by answering a question on the growing debate as such:
“This government was elected to grow jobs, to promote the stronger economy, to secure our nation against the various challenges that we face at home and abroad, and that’s what we are doing.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz stirred controversy over the Coalition’s stance on the issue further, claiming yesterday that Australia should not adopt same sex marriage until countries in Asia do – otherwise, a “pandora’s box” of other unions could follow – including the legalisation of polyamory.
In an opinion piece published for Fairfax on Wednesday, Abetz concluded that same sex marriage would ultimately harm the upbringing of children within such unions, writing, “The institution of marriage has stood the test of time. For our children’s sake it needs to continue to do so.”
Farifax reports that at least six LNP MPs are currently openly in favour of a marriage equality bill, including Malcolm Turnbull, Greg Hunt, Simon Birmingham, Josh Frydenberg, Marise Payne and Kelly O’Dwyer.
