Australian Politicians Slam Each Other On Gay Marriage
Senate leader Eric Abetz slammed the Hobart City council after it had passed a motion supporting same-sex marriage. He wrote a letter to the council on June 17 and explained the importance of “biological parents” for children.
Abetz, one of the senior members of the Abbott government, says in his letter that the decision to support same-sex marriage has not reflected the priorities. He added that, according to him, marriage was a union between a man and a woman.
The letter, written on Abetz’s parliamentary stationery while he was on personal leave, says that children need the possible start in life by having the “security of knowing their biological parents and the diversity of male and female role models.”
"I firmly believe that the institution of marriage is one that has been uniquely, over the centuries, the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of others for life,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, “I also believe it is the best environment in which to raise children ... the Coalition has a long-standing position supporting the definition of marriage.”
Abetz said in the letter, written to Mayor Sue Hickey, that he was against changing the Coalition’s stance on the issue. He added that a conscience vote would not turn out to be helpful.
Meanwhile, Christopher Pyne slammed Abetz’s take on same-sex marriage. He referred to Abetz’s call to resign as a matter of protest. The senior cabinet member added that Liberal MPs should show respect to alternative views of their colleagues, Sky News reported.
Pyne said that the Australian prime minister was pretty clear about people having different views on same-sex marriage. Pyne added that calls for resignation would not help the cause. According to Abetz, allowing gay marriage is going to open a “Pandora’s Box” and possibly lead to polyamory.
ABC’s Barrie Cassidy wrote that Abbott’s “stubbornness” about gay marriage would potentially have political risks. A 2003 poll showed 38 per cent support for gay marriage in Australia. However, the number went up to 72 per cent in 2014 while 48 per cent of Australians “strongly” supported gay marriage.
Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au
