The Coalition for Marriage has praised the senators who voted against or abstained from voting on the marriage bill.

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In a statement Lyle Shelton, who is also the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, said the senators who didn’t support the bill had shown a courageous commitment to freedom.

Voting against the bill was the Coalition senators Eric Abetz, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Matt Canavan, Slade Brockman, John ‘Wacka’ Williams and Barry O’Sullivan. Also voting no was One Nation’s Brian Burston, Labor’s Helen Polley and Chris Ketter, independents Lucy Gichuhi and Fraser Anning, and Cory Bernardi from the Australian Conservatives.

Several senators have confirmed that they abstained from the vote including Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Social Services Zed Seselja, Liberal senator James McGrath, National’s Bridget McKenzie, and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Several senators were also absent from the chamber when the vote went down including Labor’s Sam Dastyari, Don Farrell, Alex Gallacher, Katy Gallagher, Deb O’Neill, Glenn Sterle, One Nation’s Peter Georgiou and the Liberal’s David Fawcett.

It is understood that the Liberal’s Arthur Sinodinos and Labor’s Pat Dodson are currently on leave, while Senator Jacinta Collins was given a pair, and not required to vote.

Shelton said those who did not take part in the vote had shown solidarity with Australians who will now see their freedoms disappear. Shelton accused senators of putting politics before people, saying they had failed to defend freedoms.

“The senators who voted against or abstained from voting on the bill knew that the Labor/Greens/Smith bill would pass without amendment, but chose to vote in a way that was symbolic of their commitment to ‘a fair go’ for all Australians.” Shelton said.

In an earlier statement Shelton said he remained hopeful that protections for freedom of speech and religion, and freedom of conscience, would be added to the bill when it is debated in the House of Representatives.

OIP Staff