The
Federal Opposition has finally outlined its reason
for supporting Australia's prohibition of same-sex
marriage.
The
Shadow
Attorney-General, Senator Joe Ludwig, meeting
with representatives of Australian Marriage Equality
(AME) in Brisbane last week, said that religion had
not played a part in its reasoning, instead it was
merely tradition.
Senator Ludwig said that marriage in Australia had
traditionally been between a man and a woman and
that Labor valued tradition.
Senator Ludwig declined a request to explain why
Labor considered the denial of equal legal rights
for blacks or voting rights for women to
be examples of
bad traditions whilst the exclusion of equal
marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples to be a
tradition worth preserving.
A
former Shadow Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon,
had first announced the ALP's opposition to same-sex
marriage at a forum organised by the Australian
Christian Lobby, the Australian Family Association
and other anti-gay religious hate groups in 2004.
AME national
convener, Sharon Dane, said: "Senator
Ludwig was keen to avoid citing religion as a
reason."
"He was
aware that most marriages which occur in
Australia each year are civil and have no religious
involvement."
"He was
also aware that a number of ministers of
religion seek the right to marry same-sex couples
and are currently prevented from practicing their
faith in accordance with their beliefs."
"But
I was surprised that after three
years Senator Ludwig's excuse for
discrimination was so lame. Tradition is the only
reason he was able to come up with."
"What about fairness or equality under the law.
Don't these matter at all? Not even keeping up with
the neighbours seemed a concern", said Ms Dane.
Canada, South Africa, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Spain all allow same-sex marriage.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand, among
many others, provide civil unions.
