Australian Prime
Minister Tony Abbott's conservative coalition government on Tuesday
Aug 11,2015 blocked its members from voting in favor of gay marriage, a politically
risky move that effectively rules out a marriage equality bill passing
under his government.
In the Australian parliament, crossing the floor is extremely rare and lawmakers can face severe retribution up to expulsion if they defy the party to vote against their colleagues
The coalition's current position is against same-sex marriage.
On Tuesday Aug 11,2015 , Abbott called a rare meeting of the full coalition party room to decide the issue. The presence of right-wing coalition partner The Nationals overwhelmed support for a free vote among Abbott's Liberals by a ratio two to one
"If
you support the existing definition of marriage between a man and a
woman, the coalition is absolutely on your side but if you would like to
see change at some time in the future, the coalition is prepared to
make that potentially possible," Abbott told after the near
six-hour meeting, suggesting a public referendum on the matter.
"The disposition is that it should happen through a people's vote rather than simply through a parliament vote."
Ireland backed same-sex marriage by a landslide earlier this year in a referendum that marked a dramatic social shift in a traditionally Catholic country that only decriminalized homosexuality two decades ago.
Australia's opposition Labor Party seized on the Irish referendum and days later introduced a bill to legalize same sex marriage, the first by a major Australian political party.
The Labor Opposition has pledged to introduce same-sex marriage legislation within the first 100 days if it wins the election
Note
In the Australian parliament, crossing the floor is extremely rare and lawmakers can face severe retribution up to expulsion if they defy the party to vote against their colleagues
The coalition's current position is against same-sex marriage.
On Tuesday Aug 11,2015 , Abbott called a rare meeting of the full coalition party room to decide the issue. The presence of right-wing coalition partner The Nationals overwhelmed support for a free vote among Abbott's Liberals by a ratio two to one
"The disposition is that it should happen through a people's vote rather than simply through a parliament vote."
Ireland backed same-sex marriage by a landslide earlier this year in a referendum that marked a dramatic social shift in a traditionally Catholic country that only decriminalized homosexuality two decades ago.
Australia's opposition Labor Party seized on the Irish referendum and days later introduced a bill to legalize same sex marriage, the first by a major Australian political party.
The Labor Opposition has pledged to introduce same-sex marriage legislation within the first 100 days if it wins the election
Note
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