“I don’t make idle threats”: MP to resign if govt allows free vote on marriage

National MP Andrew Broad has told reaffirmed to media today he will quit the government and sit on the crossbench if the Coalition allows a free vote on marriage equality in parliament.

Speaking to Sunraysia Daily, the member for Mallee said he would stand by his previous promise to quit the National Party, telling the publication; “I don’t make idle threats.”

“If the Liberals come out with a conscious [sic] vote, then yeah, I don’t make idle threats,” Broad said.

“If I had to, but it won’t happen. So there’s no risk of that.”

Broad added that he believed every elected National MP would split from the Coalition government should a free vote go ahead on the issue.

“If the Liberals come out with a conscious [sic] vote, it won’t be me only, the whole show would blow up.”

“So suddenly you’d lose 16 lower house members in one block. Turnbull’s leadership would become untenable and he’d no longer be Prime Minister.”

The Liberal Party are due to meet in their party room at 4pm EST today to discuss their next step in the realm of marriage equality.

OIP Staff