Eric Abetz, the government’s leader in the senate has told SKY News that allowing marriage equality in Australia would be like opening Pandora’s Box. Mr Abetz said marriage should not be opened up to the latest fad.
Speaking to SKY News this morning Mr Abetz said;
“I believe the marriage acts as it defines marriage is the right way to go. It has withstood the test of time, over the centuries, over the millennia.
“To try and change the definition now will open a Pandora’s Box because if you undo the institution by redefining it for the latest movement, or the latest fad, you will open a Pandora’s Box for all sorts of other sorts of potential possibilities.
When asked what kinds of possibilities he was referring to the Government’s Leader in the Senate highlighted polyamory as something he was concerned about.
“Well polyamory clearly, polyamory is one of those that has now been promoted, not only to Australian senate committees but it has been commented on and pursued in Holland, in Scandinavia, in the United States, so let’s not be under any illusion that once you start unpicking the definition of marriage there will be other consequences.”
Mr Abetz said the question for Australia was which is the best outcome for children?
“The question for Australia today is whether or not we actually believe that the best gold rolled institution for the socialisation of children is with their biological parents and the benefit of a male and female role model.
“Now, do we have other forms of families? Of course we do. Do step-parents do a good job? Yes they do. Do single parent do a good job yes they do? But when you ask the fundamental question, what is the ideal – all things being equal – what is the ideal position for children, and indeed the United Nations Declaration for Human Rights – in article sixteen it talks about marriage as being a man and a woman.”
Watch the interview at SKY NEWS.
Mr Abetz comments come after he wrote an opinion piece for The Age where he said he was disappointed in the Australian media’s cover age of the US Supreme Court’s decision.
“It is disappointingly predictable that the media in Australia is obsessed by a slim majority activist US Supreme Court decision. At the same time there have been no reports of an elected representative vote in another country of 110-26 against same-sex marriage.” Mr Abetz wrote referring to a decision in Austria.
Mr Abetz said the media had a duty to report on traditional marriage being upheld in countries like Italy and Austria, as well as the opposition to same sex marriage in France – where it has been legalised.
Read Mr Abetz piece in The Age
