Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has linked the debate over marriage equality to a Victorian Council’s decision to move its Australia Day celebrations.

Melbourne’s Yarra council announced that they would no longer celebrate Australia Day on January 26th and would move to conduct citizenship ceremonies on an alternative date.

The council said it had overwhelming feedback from residents that they January date was offensive to many people, particularly aboriginal people. The decision prompted an angry response from current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Appearing on radio yesterday Abbott said he was glad the government had responded to decision in  such a strong manner.

Abbott said the council’s decision was an example of the “war” that was being waged on Australian way of life.

Listing the Safe Schools program which aims to stop LGBTI children being bullied, “gender fluidity” and “rampant political correctness in schools”, the former PM said these were examples of “assaults on things people have taken for granted”.

Abbott said the campaign for marriage equality was in trouble because people were now worried about “the real agenda of the people pushing these things.”

The former PM said marriage equality activists real agenda was to “weaken marriage”.