The WA president of the Australian Family Association (AFA) has said the federal government’s consultation with the public on same-sex marriage was ‘a joke’, the Perth Voice newspaper reported this week.
The AFA have been working with the Catholic Church to distribute a petition to local parishes against same-sex marriage.
The petition was a response to Greens MP Adam Bandt’s (pictured) motion for federal MPs to gauge their constituents’ views on same-sex marriage.
In November, the Bishops of Australia voted to distribute materials opposing same-sex marriage to local diocese.
AFA president John Barich told the Voice that the consultation was ‘a joke’.
‘It’s an absurdity. The man [Adam Bandt] has been 24 hours in parliament, wet behind the ears and he’s telling the old timers how to run things,’ Barich said.
‘Who the hell does he think he is?’
WA Gay and Lesbian Equality convener Kitty Hawkins said the petition was ‘disturbing’.
‘It is my hope that recipients of this petition, be they members of a Catholic congregation or any other members of the public will remember that same-sex marriage is supported by up to 62 per cent of the population [Galaxy Poll 2010],’ she said.
OIP
***
