Australian Prime Minister Threatens to Sack Ministers Who Vote for Marriage

CALARE MP John Cobb says he was proud to be part of the federal Coalition’s joint party room meeting that rejected a conscience vote on same-sex marriage on Tuesday night.

THE Abbott government has flagged a referendum or a plebiscite on this issue after the next election, dodging a vote in this term of parliament.

“Think of the signal that the Prime Minister’s actions send to the young people right around the country who are told ‘you are different…”

Shortly after at a press conference, Abbott – who opposes marriage equality – said it would be in a Coalition party room meeting with their Nationals counterparts at 3.15pm today that the government would reconvene specifically to discuss marriage equality.

Mr Abbott’s ruling conservative coalition all but doomed legislation that would allow gay marriage by refusing to allow members of parliament a free vote on the issue.

Gay marriage may have popular support in the opinion polls but it could be defeated by a well organised no campaign, especially in a referendum which requires a double majority of the states and the national vote. “We could have a plebiscite or a constitutional referendum”, he said, as though there was not much difference.

“Obviously the fact that we are disposed to put it to the people in the next term of parliament shows that we are open to change, but please let’s not underestimate the magnitude of this as a cultural shift”, Abbott told reporters Wednesday.

“Given that the Coalition party room didn’t have time this morning to deal with it …”

The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Tony Abbott and his allies were employing delaying tactics. Two Australian television stations refused to run the advertisement, leading some to say the effort to squelch religious free speech on same-sex marriage has already begun down under.

This is his attempt at a sop to the proponents of marriage equality in the party and the electorate.

The bill looks certain to be formally introduced to Parliament on Monday, with support from both sides of the House of Representatives.

“We must keep global warming to no more than two degrees”.

Speaking to ABC radio, the PM again defended his position on same-sex marriage, decribing it as a modern construct, and suggested a plebiscite was the best way forward.

The Prime Minister has warned that under his Liberal Party’s policies, any frontbenchers who defy the agreed position will be sacked.

Meanwhile, activists insist, the Australian public wants to see the country act on climate change.

“I’m hopeful the Liberal Party will allow a free vote once the bill is introduced”.