This dismal sight greeted the Opposition Leader as he urged MPs (many of them absent) to “step up”.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten today introduced a marriage equality bill to near-empty benches in Federal Parliament.
Despite a strong Labor presence – and despite Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s insistence that the whole government ‘own’ this issue – only a few government MPs sat on the Coalition side of the House of Representatives.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduces the Marriage Equality Bill to Parliament pic.twitter.com/01bEQaDpXL
— ellinghausen (@ellinghausen) June 1, 2015
Coalition do not support the bill – the third same-sex bill before the Parliament – and the House of Representatives voted to adjourn the debate, which will likely return at Parliament’s spring sitting.
Shorten’s private members bill, endorsed by deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, proposes to replace the words “man and woman” in the definition of who can legally marry with the words “two people”.
Let’s hope more than that number of people turn up for the (eventual) vote.
For more on marriage equality, try these articles:
This rant against marriage equality is so utterly ridiculous, it’s kind of funny.
Marriage equality has an unexpected new champion.
18 arguments against gay marriage – and why they’re bollocks.
Top Comments
In principle I agree with same sex marriage. However, Bill wants the words to say "a union between two people" and that's where I get a little concerned. If the criteria for a marriage is the union of two people into a loving and committed relationship that does mean that one can marry their sister ?
That logic implies that currently a man can marry his sister.
Incest is it's own issue covered by it's own laws.
By your logic the current phrasing of man and woman should mean brothers and sisters and parents and their opposite sex children would be able to marry, and yet obviously that is not the case.
I didn't say anything about a brother and sister. What about 2 sisters or 2 brothers ? What do the incest laws say about that ?
I'm referring to 2 sisters or 2 brothers !
Cowards.