Page 5457 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other.
So I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I’m a Conservative.
That was the view of David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
It goes to illustrate that momentum is building—as Mr Rattenbury indicated in his opening remarks, across all political parties. I must confess that I would be amazed to meet the 10 per cent of Green voters who do not support this. It is an extraordinary proposition. It would be a very interesting political insight into those voters, but nonetheless they possibly exist.
Mr Rattenbury: We, too, are a broad church.
MR BARR: Yes; so it would seem. It is certainly clear from all of that, and from all of the published opinion polls, that momentum is building. Support amongst younger Australians is now over 80 per cent. So I also agree with Mr Rattenbury’s observation that it is not a matter of if but when this legislative change occurs.
It is in that context that a recent visit to the Martin Luther King Jr memorial in the Washington Mall provided another opportunity to reflect on struggles for equal rights. In a few brief moments looking at that memorial, one quote that is part of the display there struck me as being very relevant in the context of this debate. Martin Luther King Jr said, I think in the District of Columbia in 1963:
Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.
It is that sentiment that is undoubtedly driving so many Australians in support of marriage equality.
I would like to take this opportunity tonight to acknowledge the work of the Australian Rainbow Labor Network, Labor Party activists from across all states and territories in Australia who have been working diligently to achieve a change to Labor’s federal platform at our national conference in December to maintain a position within the Labor Party that matters of equality should not be subject to a conscience vote. I am not sure how that will pan out ultimately in December. I know from my perspective that I will be voting to change Labor’s platform and I will be voting against any rule change that enables a conscience vote within the Labor Party. In relation to what happens in other political parties, I recognise that—
Mr Smyth: A conscience vote, but we will vote against it in the Labor Party.
MR BARR: Yes, and I was coming to that point. I recognise that—
Mr Smyth: It is normally called hypocrisy.
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