Liberal Senator Dean Smith has spoken out about the government’s lack of action of marriage equality.
Speaking to SKY News earlier today the Western Australian senator said the government should look at addressing the issue within the current term of government.
Senator Smith said the Prime Minister was of the view that if the plebiscite failed to be implemented the issue of marriage equality would have to wait. Breaking ranks with his party the senator said he disagreed.
“The government is a subset of the parliament, the parliament is not a subset of the government,” Senator Smith said adding parliament could pass a same-sex marriage bill if allowed a vote.
While more conservative voices in the Liberal and National party have suggested that the issue may be put on the back-burner for several years, Senator Smith does not share their view.
The government’s preferred pathway for dealing with the drawn out issue is to conduct a national plebiscite, and even thought he Labor party vowed to the block the legislation in the senate Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been adamant that it’s still the way forward.
Senator Smith said the difference between his party and the Labor party was how you end up at a parliamentary vote addressing the marriage act.
“Where there is the point of difference is how you get to a parliamentary vote” Senator Smith told SKY News.
Senator Smith said he planned to abstain from voting on the plebiscite legislation, which he has previously declared he is not in favour of. If it came to a deadlock though, the senator said he would have no problem crossing the floor.
OIP Staff
