Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said it’s “Okay to be gay” but reaffirmed his personal opposition to marriage equality.
“I take the traditional position that marriage is between a man and a woman,” the PM said during a radio interview with Sydney station 2UE on Monday.
“It’s been the position since time immemorial. I don’t say that there can’t be change. There are many things that were taken for granted in previous times that we no longer take for granted. There were things that were just regarded as the natural order of things in times past which we now think were dead wrong and it’s to our credit that we now think those things are dead wrong.
“So I’m not saying that change is out of the question, I’m just saying that if there is to be change it should be change that’s owned by the people, not just by the parliament.”
The statement contradicts the Prime Minister’s statement from earlier in the year when he said the issue of marriage should be one for the whole parliament rather than individual parties.
Mr Abbott said that if the majority of Australians voted to make a change to the marriage laws he would respect the decision because we live in a democracy.
The change of position on marriage laws follows the coalition’s epic six hour meeting on the issue, After the government decided not to allow members a conscience vote on the issue it was suggested that a referendum or plebiscite should be held to gauge public support.
Some government minister’s have publicly called for a referendum to be held, while others have advocated for a non-binding plebiscite to be used. The Prime Minister has indicated that cabinet will make a decision on the methodology within a few weeks.
A bill has also been introduced into the upper house by independent crossbenchers and The Green’s senator Janet Rice. The bill calls for any plebiscite to be held at the same time as the next federal election.
The Prime Minister has stated his intention is to hold a separate poll sometime during the next parliamentary term.
OIP Staff
