Page 5456 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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Senate, it will undoubtedly also require the support of the lower house member from the Greens as well as the senators from the Greens.
I would also imagine that, in order to be successful in this parliament, it would require some votes from the Liberal Party. Hence point (3) in my amendment: that this Assembly take the opportunity tonight to call on the Liberal Party to grant a conscience vote. I suspect that it might be a bridge too far, given the make-up of the Liberal Party, to expect that they would support this en bloc, but I note, as do many who follow this debate, that many members of the Liberal Party are supportive of marriage equality.
I look forward to the contribution of those opposite tonight. Mr Hanson, in particular, in his inaugural speech, made some fairly encouraging statements about his views on equality for gay and lesbian Canberrans. One would hope that that extends to marriage equality. I know that Mr Smyth has marched in mardi gras. I am not quite as proud of his voting record in this place, but I am pleased that he has attended that event.
Mr Smyth: I got the fine fellow award the other day.
MR BARR: I noticed you did—a fabulous award from the AIDS Action Council.
Mr Smyth: Consistency.
MR BARR: Indeed. It is just a pity that your voting record does not quite match that, Mr Smyth. Nonetheless—
Members interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, Mr Seselja and Mr Barr, we are not having a—
Mr Seselja: There are plenty of members of the gay community who do not support gay marriage.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, remember that you are under warning. We are not having a conversation across the chamber.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. No, I do not assume that everyone shares my view. I was making the point that there are members of the Liberal Party who are in state parliaments and in the federal parliament who have indicated on the public record their support for marriage equality. The question is whether they will be granted the opportunity to express that by casting a vote in favour of a legislative change.
In the context of where conservative parties are heading on this issue around the world, my attention was drawn to recent comments from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, who spoke to the Conservative Party conference earlier this year. Amongst his contribution on that day, he made the following observation that is worth reading into the public record:
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