GAY marriage looks set to be on the national agenda for some time to come, and debate locally is just as mixed as in Canberra.
The referendum in Ireland at the weekend granting same-sex couples the right to marry, plus Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s push for a same-sex marriage bill to be introduced to parliament, reignited the Australian marriage equality debate this week.
On Wednesday Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the Liberal Party caucus will debate on whether to vote on the issue as a bloc or on conscience.
Swan Hill’s voice in federal parliament Andrew Broad indicated that he would vote against legalising same-sex marriage if the matter was put to a free vote.
“I made it very clear in the candidate forum that I don’t support changes to the Marriage Act and that marriage is between a man and a woman…I intend to be consistent with what I stated in the candidate forum,” the Member for Mallee said.
Mr Broad told The Guardian that he had not received much feedback from his electorate on the matter, and said he was focusing on security, job opportunities and mobile phone coverage issues.
Mr Broad dismissed the idea that momentum for gay marriage was building worldwide.
“We’re in the Asia Pacific region and certainly if you look in the Asia Pacific region its not something that’s even being talked about…New Zealand yes, but certainly not countries in our region.”
Swan Hill’s state government representative Peter Walsh supported the idea of a conscience vote but did not divulge his personal opinion on the matter.
“Any change to Australia’s Marriage Act is a matter for the Commonwealth,” the Member for Murray Plains said.
Swan Hill Mayor Michael Adamson told the Guardian that gay marriage was not a “relevant issue” for local government.
“It’s not an issue, as a council we are involved in,” Mr Adamson said.
For more stories grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (May 29).
