UPDATE:
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Coalition Government will either allow a free vote on same-sex marriage or put the question to the people if re-elected for another term.
“I’ve come to the view… that this is the last term in which the Coalition party room can be bound, although we will definitely maintain the current position for the life of this term,” Mr Abbott said in a press conference from Canberra around 10pm.
“It is deeply personal… It is a subject on which decent people can differ. And it is a subject on which people can differ even inside political parties.”
He said the Coalition would “finalise a new position” before the next election, but the matter should “rightly be put to the Australian people” – whether by plebiscite or constitutional referendum.
“It’s not an especially complex piece of policy. It is pretty instinctive whether or not you support the concept of same sex marriage… and this is quite properly something that should be decided by the Australian people.”
Mr Abbott said around 60 frontbenchers and 30 backbenchers spoke in the six-hour special meeting, with around 30 MPs voting in favour of a free vote. He said of the 30, around 12 said despite wanting a free vote, they would still vote against marriage equality.
“I have to say I was proud of my colleagues,” Mr Abbott said.
“All of them, whichever side of this issue they were on, spoke well with humanity, with decency, with compassion, with an understanding that this is a serious issue that needed to be dealt with very seriously indeed.”
He said the Liberal stance that marriage was between a man and a woman was a “long and sometimes contentious hard-fought issue” and there was a strong feeling in the party room that if the party altered their position “a lot of people who voted for us were going to feel dudded”.
Mamamia previously wrote:
An overwhelming majority of government MPs have voted against having a free vote on same-sex marriage during this term of parliament.
After a five-and-a-half hour special meeting, Coalition MPs have emerged with around 70 in favour of a binding vote against marriage equality and 32 in favour of a conscience vote, News Limited reports.
It was believed that had a free vote been allowed, the legislation may have passed – with the frontbench believed to have been split 50/50 on the issue.
Last month, Labor leader Bill Shorten pledged to move to legalise same-sex marriage in his first 100 days if he becomes prime minister.
Federal Labor MPs agreed to be bound to vote in favour of marriage equality, but not for another two elections.
Tonight’s result has led to speculation the Abbott Government may promise a referendum on the issue as part of his election campaign next year.
Twitter reactions to the news.
For more on marriage equality, try these articles:
These are the 10 people blocking marriage equality in Australia.
The one beautiful paragraph that explains marriage equality perfectly.
Marriage equality bill introduced to parliament, almost no Liberal MPs show up.
A statement from the Mamamia Women’s Network about Marriage Equality.
Top Comments
Do these pricks not understand that they are mean to be representing what the people want. It should be the people that decide and there should definitely be a referendum. Australia is turning into a dictatorship thanks to the royal C U Next Tuesday Tony Abbott
"Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Coalition Government will either allow a free vote on same-sex marriage or put the question to the people if re-elected for another term"
"He said the Coalition would “finalise a new position” before the next election, but the matter should “rightly be put to the Australian people” – whether by plebiscite or constitutional referendum."
"Tonight’s result has led to speculation the Abbott Government may promise a referendum on the issue as part of his election campaign next year."
Did you miss all of that?
70% of the people are in favour of same-sex marriage, according to the polls. That's what 'the people want,' and this sorry excuse for a leader knows it.
Nobody missed anything - and you won't either if you read between the lines.
I hope you really believe in Polls for your cause.
Bill Shorten promises to "move" on ssm in the first 100 days if elected........but not have a binding vote until he's been elected for a second time, how about you read between those lines........oh wait you don't have to, no ssm until after 2019
If your so sure about support being at 70% why do you fear a vote of the people.
What's stopping him putting the issue to the people, in the form of a referendum? It's the clearest, most direct way of getting a national answer to the question.
I believe that is the intention.
As far as I know, marriage is not a constitutional issue and referendums are only used to vote on changes to the constitution. They could hold a plebiscite but the results of plebiscites are not binding anyway.
Personally, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of putting a group of people's civil rights up for a vote. Marriage equality should happen because it's the right thing to do, not because a big enough proportion of the country approves of it. It shouldn't matter if the majority approves or not - it affects no one except the people getting married.
"Marriage equality should happen because it's the right thing to do, not because a big enough proportion of the country approves of it. It shouldn't matter if the majority approves or not - it affects no one except the people getting married."
That is exactly my position and my position regarding 'those ads'. People's civil rights should not be up for discussion, let alone a vote.