New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser has said he knows of no evidence that showed same-sex marriage had a negative impact on his country’s international trade.
New Zealand’s politicians have been quick to disprove Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s concerns that marriage equality could affect Australia’s international trade.
New Zealand’s MPs have highlighed that New Zealand’s trade with China, Australia’s biggest Asian trading partner, had actually increased by 3 billion dollars since marriage equality was achieved.
Mr Joyce appeared on the ABC’s ‘Insiders’ program on Sunday morning voicing his opposition to marriage equality. The Deputy leader of the Nationals outlined his concerns that Australia’s trading partners would see same sex marriage as decadent behaviour. Mr Joyce’s comments came after Liberal senator Eric Abetz said Australia should look towards Asia when it comes to marriage equality.
New Zealand Labour MP Louisa Wall’s Marriage Equality Bill was passed in April 2013. Ms Wall has told reporters that she could not recall trade being raised as a concern when New Zealand debated the issue.
William Rolleston, National President of the Federated Farmers said there was no link between marriage equality and trade
“Quite frankly, I think it is a pretty silly thing to say.” Mr Rolleston said, describing the comments as a scare tactic.
In The Guardian, Richard Ackland has highlighted that all of the major exporters of cattle that Asian countries may turn to as alternatives to Australia have already have granted marriage equality.
“Maybe our Asian customers would have to turn to Brazil for agricultural products – except that our competitors in this market such as Brazil, Argentina, Canada and New Zealand, all recognise same sex relationships in law.” Ackland wrote
Mr Joyce’s comments have been picked up by international media and have been widely reported. On the website of the London Evening Standard several commentators created fake profiles of militant gay cows to lampoon Mr Joyce’s comments.
OIP Staff, Image: Stock Image – YayMicro | moodboard
Tags: Barnaby Joyce, cows, gay, gay marriage, Lesbian, Louisa Wall, marriage equality, moo, New Zealand, queer, Richard Ackland, Same Sex Marriage, The Guardian, Tim Groser, trans*, transgender, William Rolleston
OUTinPerth is news website focusing on diversity in sexuality and gender. Established in 2002, OUTinPerth was a print magazine until 2019 when it became a fully digital publication.
OUTinPerth is created on the land of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this country and its waters, and pay our respect to Elders past and present.
OUTinPerth is owned by Speirins Media Pty Ltd. P.O. Box 69, Gosnells, 6990.
Help create OUTinPerth. We're always looking for writers, researchers and creative people. Find out more here.
The publication of the name, photograph or likeness of any person within this this site in no way implies anything about their sexuality or gender identity.
Copyright on contributions to and ads published in OUTinPerth is retained by the author/advertiser respectively. Permission to reprint should be sought via the Editor.
The views of this publication are contained in editorials. Opinions expressed in columns or articles are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.
Advertisers are advised that all advertising copy is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. The appearance of any advert/advertorial herein does not imply endorsement by OUTinPerth.