AN organisation opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage has expressed concern of a potential “policy vacuum” on the issue in the new Tony Abbott-led Federal Government.
Australian Family Association spokesman Luke McCormack said “the elected Liberal Party candidates have been promised that the Liberal party room will have a vote to decide whether man and woman marriage will be official Liberal parliamentary party policy or not”.
“Dropping the policy in the party room would effectively mean there is a policy vacuum allowing MPs to vote however they please without any official recommendation one way or the other,” he said.
“So clearly such a vote would be crucial in deciding if marriage is defined in Australia.”
Mr McCormack said Catholics concerned about the situation should petition their Liberal MPs to ensure the party did not abandon its current policy on the definition of marriage.
“This can be done using www.family.org.au,” he said.
The AFA, in the lead up to the federal election, organised a protest against former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s support of same-sex marriage.
The protest was held outside Mr Rudd’s Morningside electoral office on August 13, the anniversary of 2004 bi-partisan amendment to federal marriage law.
The amendment enshrined the traditional understanding that marriage is between one man and one woman and was passed with support of both sides of politics.
Peter Beattie, the ALP candidate for the Queensland seat of Forde, said Kevin Rudd’s support for gay marriage may have hurt the party’s vote in some key marginal seats, including his own.
Meanwhile, the likely legalisation of same-sex marriage by the ACT Government before the end of the year looks set to be an early test for Mr Abbott.
The Labor administration of the territory will put forward a bill to enable gay marriage, following a decade-long attempt to legislate in the area.
Seven years ago, the John Howard-led government used its federal powers to overturn an ACT move to allow same-sex civil unions.
The ACT has since reinstated civil unions.
ACT’s chief minister Katy Gallagher was reported to have said she doesn’t expect the federal Coalition government would overturn the legislation.
Prior to the election, a spokesman for Mr Abbott said the opposition leader supported the existing definition of marriage.
“As to what the Coalition may do on this issue beyond the next federal election, I have made it clear that it would ultimately be a matter for the party room at that time,” he said.
