Federal Members of Parliament have been canvassing WA residents for their views on same-sex marriage over the past few months. Despite strong nationwide polls suggesting a majority of Australians want the current Marriage Act 1961 amended to allow homosexual couples to marry, Western Australia’s federal politicians are hearing a completely different message.
OUTinPerth endeavoured to find out what our federal representatives were hearing from their electorates. Here is what we uncovered.
SENATORS
Pratt, Senator Louise Clare ALP
The overwhelming majority of correspondence has been against same sex marriage. These things come in waves, and it’s very clear that the Christian lobby has an orchestrated campaign.
Sterle, Senator Glenn ALP
A fair amount of feedback has been received, mostly against same-sex marriage.
Bishop, Senator Mark ALP
Not a lot of feedback has been received in comparison to other issues; the response has been pretty even.
Adams, Senator Judith LP
90 per cent of the feedback received has been against same-sex marriage.
Cash, Senator Michaelia Clare LP
98 per cent of feedback received supports the current definition of the marriage act. Senator Cash supports the current definition of marriage.
Cormann, Senator Mathias LP
I support the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act 1961 as “the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.â€
I believe that the majority of Australians and the majority of West Australians agree with this position.
Eggleston, Senator Alan LP
The majority of feedback received has been against same-sex marriage.
Johnston, Senator the Hon David Albert Lloyd LP
Majority of responses have been against same-sex marriage.
Siewert, Senator Rachel AG
There has been lots of support for the Green’s position, only a few have been against same-sex marriage. Senator Siewart’s position is nothing less than total equality.
Liberal Senator Chris Back, Labor Senator Chris Evans and Greens Senator Scott Ludlam were not available to comment.
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Member for Fremantle – Ms Melissa Parke ALP
I have received a huge amount of feedback on this issue, and a lot of it has been thoughtful, well-argued and courteous – which is how a sensible debate should be conducted. All in all, the clear majority of responses has been in favour of a change to the current definition of marriage.
Brand – Gray, The Hon Gary AO ALP
There was a clear majority against same-sex marriage. There were several hundred against same-sex marriage while just a handful for it.
Smith, The Hon Stephen Francis ALP
There was an overwhelming majority against same sex marriage. 760 people were against same-sex marriage while only 145 were for it.
Keenan, Mr Michael LP
There was a clear majority against same-sex marriage.
Jensen, Dr Dennis Geoffrey LP
There was an overwhelming majority against same-sex marriage. 641 people were against same-sex marriage while just three were for it.
Simpkins, Mr Luke Xavier Linton LP
There were far more people against same-sex marriage than for it.
Wyatt, Mr Kenneth George AM LP
The feedback from the constituents has been overwhelmingly against gay marriage with multiples of calls, email, letters and walk-ins. Well over a hundred responses were against same-sex marriage.
Washer, Dr Malcolm James LP
There was a majority against same-sex marriage. 97 people were opposed to it while only 20 people said they supported it. Dr Washer didn’t believe these numbers represented the real situation in the public.
Marino, Ms Nola Bethwyn LP
This is an issue on which many in the community hold strong personal views, both for and against. The current campaigns are evidence of this, and as seen in the media it remains a contentious and divisive debate.
It is this very divisiveness that substantiates the Liberal Party position and my personal opinion that the community as a whole is not ready to accept the inclusion of same sex marriage in the Australian Marriage Act at this point in time.
Crook, Mr (Tony) NATS WA
There was far more responses against same-sex marriage than for it.
Member for Durack Barry Haase; Member for Pearce Judi Moylan; Member for Canning Don Randall; Member for Swan Stephen Irons and Member for Curtin Julie Bishop were unavailable for comment.
