Labor (Australia) wedded to gay marriage ban | Sydney Morning Herald

[Ediacara]

Labor wedded to gay marriage ban

By Cynthia Banham
August 5, 2004

The gay and lesbian lobby has accused federal Labor of betrayal, after the shadow attorney-general, Nicola Roxon, told a gathering of Christians her party's views on homosexual marriage were identical to the Government's.

Ms Roxon told the 1000- strong crowd at the "Why marriage matters" forum, held yesterday at Parliament House in Canberra, that Labor would support a Government bill to outlaw gay and lesbian marriage by the end of next week.

The forum was organised by the Tasmanian Liberal senator Guy Barnett and a coalition of the Australian Christian Lobby, the Australian Family Association and the Fatherhood Foundation.

Ms Roxon, speaking after the Prime Minister, John Howard, said it was "cheeky" to suggest Labor's views differed to the Government's. "The major parties do not support gay marriage," Ms Roxon said to thunderous applause.

Ms Roxon said Labor had "no intention now, after the inquiry finishes or after the election of advocating for gay marriage".

More at the Sydney Morning Herald

[mitchtv]

1. sounds like a boycott of Aussie products is in the offing

Besides I prefer California wine and oranges.

[David__77]

2. I would not support them.

That's a dividing line issue for me. Friendly neglect is one thing--active opposition before a fundie audience is a declaration of war. So foolish--they will split the progressive camp and lose to the right.

[BayCityProgressive]

3. I am

a member of DSA and we are a part of the Socialist International. The Australian Labor Party is also a member and they are a joke. Its like a party full of Joe Liebermans but even worse! The party supports school vouchers I believe, and now wants to ban gay marriage.

[David__77]

4. I know there are real socialists within the Labor Party...

...but they better get to work taking over from the "third way" camp. This is ridiculous!

[anakie]

5. you are right about the labor party

however they are not too bad about gay issues; especially when compared to the other mob. The following press release summarises the labor party's platform on gay issues.

"We have also committed to move an amendment opposing the government's moves on adoption. Adoption will remain the responsibility of the states, and those states and territories which currently allow same sex adoption will not have their laws tampered with.

We will also move an amendment on superannuation. The government has claimed it will introduce superannuation legislation making it
easier for inter-dependent couples of all types (i.e. same sex couples, siblings etc) to leave their super to one another. This legislation
is separate from what has already been introduced, and no-one has yet seen it. Labor will move our own amendment and challenge the government to support it.

Perhaps most importantly, the ALP has committed to provide absolute equality between same sex and hetero-sexual de facto couples. This is something the lesbian and gay communities have been lobbying for some years, and we will urge the government to support our changes. If they don't, we will deliver on this promise in government. Every piece of Commonwealth legislation will be examined, and every bit of discrimination based on sexuality or gender identification will be removed.

I still believe the Prime Minister's proposed changes to the Marriage Act and Family Law Act are intentionally divisive and a dirty political exercise, however I believe the package of reforms Labor has negotiated, if passed, would be a huge step forward. The GLTBI communities can look forward to genuine, far-reaching reforms under a Labor government."

http://www.crikey.com.au/whistleblower/2004/08/05-0003.html

As for Bush's proposed constitutional amendment that marriage is between a man and a woman - he left out one word. If they truly believe this they would add the word 'forever'. But like everything else this administration are a bunch of hypocrites.