Civil unions could lead to gay marriage, opponents say
A Queensland parliamentary hearing last Thursday into proposed civil unions legislation has heard claims from opponents that its introduction will eventually lead to the state legalising polygamy, incest, or even, gay marriage.
Just over 10 conservative Christian or family groups were represented at the public hearing in Brisbane, with the Australian Christian Lobby’s, Wendy Francis, upset that the hearing allowed email submissions after 5,000 were received in just 12 days, The Australian reported.
A vote on the private member’s bill introduced by Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser is expected in the next few months, and with the Liberal National Party Opposition planning to oppose it, the bill will be defeated if six Labor MPs use a conscience vote to side with the Opposition.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week senior federal Labor MP Mark Butler used a Sydney Morning Herald article to give his support for the ALP adopting a binding policy agreement on marriage equality at its upcoming National Conference.
Butler’s comments were then refuted by senior ACTU official, and Labor Right powerbroker, Joe De Bruyn, who suggested that any support for marriage equality would cost the ALP votes.
De Bruyn’s comments came after rising NSW Liberals’ star, Bruce Notley-Smith, made it clear to SX that he would be attempting to persuade federal Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, and other colleagues to be more open about the issue.
Last week also saw support on marriage equality come from local governmental quarters, with Lachlan Clyne, Mayor of Adelaide’s Unley Council, saying he is in “favour of it”, while City of Sydney unanimously supported a motion by Lord Mayor Clover Moore to officially support a rally for marriage equality in Hyde Park on December 3.
- Tags: Adelaide, Andrew Fraser, Australian Christian Lobby, Bruce Notley-Smith, City of Sydney, Civil Unions, Clover Moore, Joe de Bruyn, Labor Party, Lachlan Clyne, Liberal Party, Mark Butler, Marriage Equality, Politics, Queensland, Unley Council, Wendy Francis
About the Author
Serkan Ozturk
Serkan Ozturk became a journalist after failing as a minor poet. Known amongst some circles as the ‘Van Wilder of the High Arts’ it took Serkan almost a decade of studying at three of Sydney’s major universities before finally attaining a single, much vaunted Communication degree from that bastion of Brutalist architecture – the University of Technology, Sydney.
When not being investigated by the NSW Police Commissioner for crimes against satire, Serkan can be found on his bike or generally looking for the next big story.
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