Queensland’s new opposition leader Campbell Newman is the first state Coalition leader to support gay marriage in Australia, joining the procession of other state party leaders.
The new LNP leader and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman came out in support of same-sex marriage last month in an interview on SkyNews’ Australian Agenda. He told SkyNews that he was for gay marriage but ‘I don’t see myself changing the law, I won’t be pushing for that.’
‘My wife and I have a number of friends who are gay or lesbian but I think at this time there is no desire out there, or strong move, to change the law. It’s something I won’t be ever pushing for,’ he said.
‘There are more important issues right now facing the people of Queensland. Nobody comes up to me in the streets and says “I would like to see the law changed in relation to gay marriage,†they are not doing that.’
Last year Queensland Premier and National ALP President Anna Bligh announced her support for gay marriage. Newman’s announcement means Queensland has become the first state to share bipartisan support for gay marriage from both party leaders.
In Western Australia, state opposition leader Eric Ripper called on the Barnett government late last year to introduce a relationships register for same-sex attracted couples.
GALE WA spokesperson Kitty Hawkins said the new QLD opposition leader ‘may well prove to be a very helpful ally’.
‘Campbell Newman is not the only conservative MP to support Equal Marriage,’ Hawkins said ‘but the fact that they are openly supportive while in a leadership position is definitely a good sign.’
‘I think that it is very valuable to remember that respect and support for the GLBTI community does come from all sectors of the community and from every part of the political spectrum.
‘I believe that Colin Barnett has a choice – to acknowledge GLBTI people as being an integral part of the WA community and to allow our identities and relationships to be equally and legally recognised and respected – or to become yet another anachronistic political relic.
‘Polls show that approximately 60 per cent of Australians support equal marriage, and a further 85 per cent support the removal of all legal discrimination against people of diverse sexuality and gender – Mr. Barnett needs to get with the times.’
Other state leaders who have endorsed same-sex marriage include Victoria’s Labor leader in opposition Daniel Andrews; NSW Labor leader in opposition John Robertson and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings.
Benn Dorrington
