Gay marriage debate fast-tracked

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs received a record 276, 437 responses to an online survey it conducted as part of its inquiry. The committee chair and Labor MP, Graham Perrett, along with fellow Labor MP, Laura Smyth, came out in favour of gay marriage while Liberal MPs Sharman Stone and Ross Vasta, and Labor’s Mike Symon and Shane Neumann, were opposed. The other member, the Liberal moderate Judi Moylan, gave no separate opinion.

Church groups and the Australian Christian Lobby have fiercely campaigned against gay marriage, despite Labor’s bill exonerating the churches and any other religious groups from having to marry gay people.

Mr Perrett, who holds a marginal Queensland seat, said “it is important to remember that God did not write the Marriage Act”.

“”It is written by lawyers and legislators and must reflect the views and values of today,” he said.

With public opinion polls consistently; showing majority support for same-sex marriage, Mr Perrett said it was incumbent upon MPs to respond to growing pub;ic support “by categorically opposing laws that legitimise discrimination”.

Ms Stone and Mr Vasta said the Liberals had promised before the federal election to not legalise gay marriage and Ms Stone said ‘I do not accept that the view towards marriage has changed since the 2010 federal election”.

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