Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek has called on the Labor party to have a binding vote in support of marriage equality.

Ms Plibersek, who is currently acting Opposition Leader, appeared on the ABC’s ‘AM’ earlier today. Host Michael Brissenden noted that last ALP National Conference had voted to allow Labor MPs a conscience vote on the issue of marriage equality.

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Ms Plibersk was asked if there were plans to change that position at the party’s upcoming conference.

Ms Plibersek said it was a matter for the conference but confirmed her belief that there should be a binding vote on the issue.

Ms Plibersek responded; “Because in our national platform, issues like abortion and euthanasia, that people consider to be issues of life or death, allow a conscience vote for ALP members. This is not that type of issue.

“This is an issue about legal equality, and marriage of course for some people is a religious sacrament but for many, many people it is, as well as that or indeed instead of that, it is a legal agreement, it’s an acknowledgment by our community of the rights and responsibilities that a permanent relationship presents and I think when you’re talk about an issue like this, which is an issue of legal discrimination it is important for the Labor Party to say, ‘We don’t agree with legal discrimination.'”

The discussion comes following another Labor MP arguing that the issue should not be one of personal choice, but a strict party position. Oppostion Health spokesperson Catherine King appeared on the ABC television program ‘Insiders’ on Sunday morning, sharing a similar position.

“I think it is an area that does seem a bit off to me. It is a bit of an anomaly that there is a conscience vote on this issue,” Ms King said on Sunday.

“I support gay marriage and will vote for marriage equality if asked again in the parliament, and I think at some point we will have that in this country. But I am also a bit worried that this idea about not having a conscience vote might distract from the overall issue. It is potentially picking a fight we may not need to have.”

The suggestion that the Labor party would change it’s position has been criticised by Liberal Senator Dean Smith. Senator Smith, who switched his own position on the issue earlier this year, said if the Labor party had a binding vote on the issue, there was no chance thst Liberal MPs would ever be given a conscience vote.

Senator Smith told Fairfax Media that Ms Plibersek had wrecked the progress that had been made within the Liberal party.

“If the ALP was to adopt a binding vote on same-sex marriage then the issue of a conscience vote in the Liberal Party is dead,” Senator Smith said.

“Conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage and a conscience vote will be sitting pretty. Tanya Plibersek will be the first line in their argument.

“This has put the cause back and she needs to explain herself to same-sex marriage proponents.

“There has been a slow and cautious approach to achieving a conscience vote and she has wrecked that.”

Ms Plibersek has also faced criticism for the suggestion from within her own party. Joe De Bruyen, leader of the right wing union, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, said the suggestion was “foolish”.

Mr de Bruyn criticised Ms Plibersek for making the comments while leader Bill Shorten was away overseas for ANZAC Day commemorations and said she was just “playing up to inner city electorate”.

Mr de Bruyn, a staunch opponent of marriage equality and conservative Catholic, told the Sydney Morning Herald that he didn’t believe the party would change it’s position and; “good sense will prevail”.

The suggestion of a binding vote has also been criticised by the Australian Christian Lobby.

National Director of the ACL, Lyle Shelton said he was surprised that Ms Plibersek had broken ranks while Opposition Leader was away overseas. Mr Shelton called on the Labor party to “keep the faith” with the commitment Mr Shorten gave at their annual conference in 2014.

“Mr Shorten made it very clear to ACL’s national conference that Labor believed its parliamentarians should not be forced to redefine marriage,” Mr Shelton said.

“Redefining marriage is a controversial and divisive issue, even within the Labor Party.

“Many Labor MPs, including prominent frontbenchers voted to preserve marriage in 2012.

“Forcing Labor MPs to vote as a bloc on this issue would alienate a number of Labor MPs from their socially conservative electorates, especially in outer-metropolitan electorates.

“No MP should be forced to vote to redefine marriage. Redefining marriage would redefine family. And same-sex parenting by definition means removing a child from either its mother or father.” Mr Shelton said.

OIP Staff