- We’ll be live blogging the election results on Saturday. Stay with us, and join the conversation #illawarravotes
In the last of our 5 questions in 5 days, we asked our federal election candidates: What is your stance on marriage equality and a plebiscite being held on the issue?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Candidates who didn’t respond – Whitlam: Susan Pinsuti (CDP), Marcus Hewitt (Liberal).
CUNNINGHAM
Cath Blakey (Greens)
Not allowing same-sex couples to marry denies them and their families legal equality and perpetuates discrimination and prejudice.
The overwhelming majority of Australians support full marriage equality and it is the right thing to do.
A plebiscite is going to cost an estimated $525 million for something we all know should happen.
It’s just stalling the inevitable and a waste of money, compared to $20,000 for a parliamentary vote.
Many countries have already recognised this basic human right - New Zealand, Argentina, Sweden, Portugal, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, America, Brazil, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and counting.
Greens Councillor Jill Merrin recently got married in NZ, so that her 90 year old father could be at the ceremony.
As she said at the Orlando vigil, it’s had a wonderfully positive impact on herself and her family, and as far as she can tell, no one else has been affected by it.
Nathan Waters (Science)
Science Party will legalise marriage between two consenting individuals, regardless of their gender or gender identity.
Michelle Blicavs (Liberal)
If the Coalition is re-elected, all Australians will have a say on same-sex marriage via a plebiscite after the election.
My personal view is that marriage is between a man and woman.
However, I respect the right of others to hold a different view and to have their say in a plebiscite and I would respect the decision of the people of Cunningham should they vote to support changing the Marriage Act.
Michelle Ryan (CDP)
I believe strongly in and support the traditional definition of family and marriage – marriage between one man and one woman.
The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) supports a plebiscite based on the principles of a referendum (compulsory vote, double majority) on proposed changes to the Marriage Act, drawn up by objective legal experts.
Sharon Bird (Labor)
I have previously supported changing the Marriage Act.
When the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 came before the House of Representatives, I made a conscientious decision to vote ‘yes’ following quite extensive communication with groups and individuals in the Cunningham electorate.
Whilst I acknowledge that not all my constituents agree, I believe it’s time for our laws to reflect the values of modern Australia, include everyone as equals and remove discrimination from our laws.
Labor will legislate for marriage equality within the first 100 days of the next parliament.
Labor opposes Malcolm Turnbull’s $160m dangerous and divisive plebiscite on marriage equality.
A plebiscite could act as a lightning rod for the very worst of the prejudice so many LGBTI Australians endure.
Two out of five young Australians who are gay have thought about self-harm or suicide.
A young Australian who identifies as gay is six times more likely to consider taking their own life, compared to their sibling, classmate, colleague or teammate.
It’s time for marriage equality – a recognition that love between two people of the same gender is of equal meaning, equal value and entitled to equal respect.
John Flanagan (NCPP)
Marriage is an important stepping stone to the development of our society.
We do not oppose same sex marriage. It is not our business to do so.
People have a right to choose which type of relationship that they wish to live in.
This is without interference by either the government or anyone else.
We also do not believe that a plebiscite is necessary.
Politicians are elected to act as our representatives.
They should make any necessary decisions regarding same sex marriage.
WHITLAM
Tom Hunt (Greens)
We are all different. We need to accept that within our society, things are not just black and white, but every shade of gray.
Race is not an absolute, beliefs are not an absolute, gender is not an absolute, sexual identity is not an absolute.
We aim to treat all with respect and each to their own, while ever we can live peacefully together in society and do not disadvantage any group or individual.
Who are we to judge on anyone’s love and devotion to another?
It is self evident that trying to block the already legal partnership of any two people, from becoming registered in a bond called “marriage”, is just an unfair treatment of those who fall outside the stereotype norms.
A plebiscite is unnecessary and expensive, it would not necessarily be followed through on, and would likely only lead to more polarisation on the issue.
Jan Mandelson (Nationals)
One of the strongest reasons I decided to put my hand up, and entered Politics, was to try and make things different.
I felt that Politicians had forgotten that they were put in office to represent the views of the people of their electorate, not their personal views.
That is why, I will be guided by the plebiscite, as is it not my personal view but those of Australia and my electorate.
If the majority of Australians vote yes in the plebiscite, I will respect their wishes and views.
On a personal note, I believe everyone has the right to be happy and love the person that they wish to be with and do not believe government has the right to tell people who they can love but I also respect the rights of the various religious faiths to honour their beliefs.
Wayne Hartman (NCPP)
As per John Flanagan’s earlier response:
Marriage is an important stepping stone to the development of our society.
We do not oppose same sex marriage. It is not our business to do so.
People have a right to choose which type of relationship that they wish to live in. This is without interference by either the government or anyone else.
We also do not believe that a plebiscite is necessary.
Politicians are elected to act as our representatives.
They should make any necessary decisions regarding same sex marriage.
Stephen Jones (Labor)
I believe in marriage equality and think it is time to finally make it happen in Australia.
In 2012 I introduced a Private Members’ Bill on marriage equality; it didn’t succeed but it helped build momentum that has grown and grown since.
I stand completely opposed to the Coalition’s plans for $160 million plebiscite which will divide the nation and lead to the persecution of members of the LGBTI community.
It is a glorified opinion poll which we now know won’t even bind Coalition MPs and Senators to a vote in Parliament.
They will be given a conscience vote and many Coalition politicians will vote against marriage equality.
Research tells us that reducing the stigma that LGBTI people experience has a measurable impact on their health.
It is an issue of discrimination and the wellbeing of people who actually identify as LBGTI should be front and centre of this debate.
GILMORE
Steve Ryan (CDP)
The CDP opposes any changes to the Marriage Act.
The party holds to the traditional view that marriage is the union between one man & one woman.
The traditional family is the bedrock of society.
We believe that most Australians are concerned about the sort of nation and future generations will grow up in, including the issues related to the decline of moral values and traditions our modern nation was founded upon.
Same-sex couples can already access equal entitlements due to law reform eg. taxation, social security, superannuation.
A plebiscite is not compulsory and non-binding. The CDP wants the vote to be compulsory and a say in how it is worded.
Ann Sudmalis (Liberal)
There are a lot of people passionate both for and against same-sex marriage being recognised.
With passions on both sides so high, I am quite certain that a plebiscite is the only way to address the issue of same sex marriage.
It gives everyone a say, and is a far more democratic process.
Many others feel the same way, and a Griffith University study said 70 per cent of people wanted to have a say on marriage equality.
I am committed to the plebiscite process and whatever the full vote is I will, if elected this year, follow that clear indication.
Carmel McCallum (Greens)
All people are entitled to love whomever they wish and to spend their lives together, no matter what sexual orientation they have.
It is a basic right to be able to make that relationship official in the eyes of the law and society.
A majority of Australians support Marriage Equality, but Australia lags behind most other Western Christian countries on this issue.
In fact, the majority of Australians support the right to choose and be accepted for whatever sexual orientation we are.
A plebiscite is non-binding and a waste of money which could be spent on suicide prevention, or other critical areas of need, and LNP members have already said they would disregard a positive outcome.
A plebiscite is also a potentially divisive event, which would give licence to negative, homophobic language and behavior.
We elect representatives to make these decisions on our behalf. I welcome leadership on this issue.
Fiona Phillips (Labor)
A Shorten Labor Government will legislate for marriage equality within the first 100 days of the next parliament, in recognition that love between two people of the same gender is of equal meaning, equal value and entitled to equal respect.
Labor opposes Mr Turnbull’s expensive plebiscite on marriage equality. That’s because it is the role of elected representatives in Federal Parliament to debate and vote on legislation.
Labor policy supports freedom of religion which means that, should a change to the Marriage Act take place, ministers of religion will not be required to perform ceremonies for same-sex couples.
PREVIOUS QUESTIONS