1 July 2010
Greens candidate for Wentworth Matthew Robertson today called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to justify her denial of marriage equality to the gay and lesbian community.
"The Prime Minister's stance on the issue of marriage equality not only fails to promote human rights but is contrary to public opinion"
"It beggars belief for the Prime Minister to claim to be an atheist and then on the same day signal her opposition to gay marriage, a view firmly aligned with the religious Right."
In response to the Prime Minister’s assertion that "we have as a government taken steps to equalise treatment for gay couples", Robertson said:
"The Prime Minister has failed to acknowledge that only when gay and lesbian couples have the same right to marry as their heterosexual counterparts, will their treatment before the law be truly equal.
"The Australian people have got over their hang-ups about sexuality and it is time our leaders did too. Ms Gillard has revealed she is at home with the social conservatives on the right of the ALP and is intent on keeping both major parties locked in the past on this."
"The Greens are providing the only positive position on this issue. We support every adult's right to marry the person they choose regardless of their gender or sexuality" Robertson said.
The Greens have long argued for amendments to the Marriage Act which would extend the right to marry to all couples irrespective of their sexual preference or sexuality.
"The campaign for marriage equality is about human rights and therefore
necessarily affects everyone. Perhaps it is for this reason that public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of marriage equality and the promotion of non-discrimination" said Robertson.
Background
An online poll conducted by the Sydney Morning Herald indicates 75% of respondents disagree with the Prime Minister's position on marriage equality.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillard-against-gay-marriage-20100630-zkcj.html?autostart=1