Politicians who support equality: References & quotes
LIST OF SUPPORTIVE MPS WITH REFERENCES
Australian Labor Party
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Alan Griffin MP, Member for Bruce, VIC
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/gay-marriage-bill-backed/
Andrew Leigh MP, Member for Fraser, ACT
To a journalist (3 August 2010).
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/labor-candidate-has-big-shoes-to-fill/1902162.aspx
Anthony Albanese MP, Member for Grayndler, NSW
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-left-powerbroker-albanese-backs-change-on-same-sex-marriage-platform/story-fn59niix-1226209004617
Bernie Ripoll MP, Member for Oxley, QLD
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/south/labor-postpones-vote-on-same-sex-marriage-until-later-in-the-year/story-fn8m0tyy-1226116625406
Bill Shorten MP, Member for Maribyrnong, VIC
In a panel discussion (9 November 2010): “I don’t know if it will be this year, next year or 10 or 20 years’ time, but I think a time will come when a whole lot of people will think ‘what’s the drama about changing the Marriage Act?’”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/09/3060818.htm
Brendan O’Connor MP, Member for Gorton, VIC
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/12145918/debate-gay-marriage-says-pm-s-mate/
Catherine King MP, Member for Ballarat, VIC
http://melton-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/church-backs-ballarat-mps-gay-marriage-switch/
Gai Brodtmann MP, Member for Canberra, ACT
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2011/10/25/marriage-equality-support-grows-in-alp/64477
Graham Perrett MP, Member for Moreton, QLD
To a journalist (13 November 2010): “[Same-sex marriage is] something I feel passionately about. I have two gay brothers and it’s a regular topic of conversation at Christmas and family gatherings.”
http://www.smh.com.au/national/vowed-to-fight-for-recognition-20101112-17raf.html
Janelle Saffin MP, Member for Page, NSW
To a journalist (18 November 2010): “My personal stance is that people should have the choice. This is a human right that is about equality and that is the view that I am putting forward within the party”.
http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2010/11/18/janelle-saffin-comes-out/
Jenny Macklin MP, Member for Jagajaga, VIC
http://diamond-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/have-your-say-macklin-to-vote-for-allowing-same-sex-marriages/
Julie Owens MP, Member for Parramatta, NSW
http://www.parramattasun.com.au/news/local/news/general/gay-marriage-debate/2277699.aspx
Kate Ellis MP, Member for Adelaide, SA
Via Twitter on 15 Nov 2011, in reply to @JacobLeigh’s question: “Gay marriage conscience vote – how would you vote? Which way are you leaning?” @KateEllisMP: “to support”. http://yfrog.com/g0cnzkp
Kirsten Livermore MP, Member for Capricornia, QLD
To a journalist (17 November 2010): “You’ve asked me a hypothetical question about how I would vote on homosexual marriage. I would vote yes, in favour of homosexual marriage.”
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2010/11/17/livermore-says-yes-to-gay-marriages/
Laurie Ferguson MP, Member for Werriwa, NSW
http://macarthur-chronicle-wollondilly.whereilive.com.au/news/story/laurie-ferguson-alone-in-same-sex-support/
Mark Butler MP, Member for Port Adelaide, SA
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/conscience-vote-on-gay-marriage-not-enough-20111108-1n5b0.html
Mark Dreyfus MP, Member for Isaacs, VIC
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s3071838.htm
Melissa Parke MP, Member for Fremantle, WA
In Parliament (18 November 2010): “My view is that discrimination against same-sex couples is unjustifiable and for too long it’s been a hurtful and oppressive aspect of life in Australia and of public policy in Australia as it has in many countries. Unfortunately that discrimination exists today and one aspect of the discrimination is in the law that prevents same-sex couples from choosing the relationship status that we call marriage.”
Michael Danby MP, Member for Melbourne Ports, VIC
At a public forum (12 August 2010): “I’m not saying that at this election that I support changing the legislation for gay marriage, but it’s coming, and in the next government I will expect there will be serious movement within the Labor Party on that issue, and I know a number of other people apart from myself will be running with it.”
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/danby-talks-up-prospect-of-
gay-marriage-then-retreats-20100811-11ztg.html
Mike Kelly MP, Member for Eden-Monaro, NSW
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-06/mp3a-yes-to-gay-marriage-but-lete28099s-move-on/3714204/?site=southeastnsw§ion=news
Nicola Roxon MP, Member for Gellibrand, VIC
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/nicola-roxon-says-no-to-bill-of-rights/story-fn59niix-1226220370217
Peter Garrett MP, Member for Kingsford Smith, NSW
To a journalist (22 December 2006): “I don’t have a problem with it [same-sex marriage].”
http://www.dnamagazine.com.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=1319&c=175827
Richard Marles MP, Member for Corio, VIC
“I’ve made it clear that if a Bill does come before the Parliament that I’ll be supporting same-sex marriage in terms of a potential amendment to the Family Law Act, but let’s see what comes before the Parliament.”
http://ministers.dfat.gov.au/marles/transcripts/2011/rm_tr_111212_sky_news.html
Sharon Bird MP, Member for Cunningham, NSW
In a letter to a constituent, 5 December 2011: ”I am informing you that if such a Private Members’ Bill comes before the House of Representatives, I will be supporting a change to the Marriage Act 1961 to recognise marriage equality, provided churches and other religious institutions are protected in their right to perform marriages according to their own principles and values.”
Sharon Grierson MP, Member for Newcastle, NSW
In Parliament (15 November 2010): “[T]his is a mainstream issue which affects many people who live in my electorate and in every electorate across Australia. This is not an issue confined to same-sex couples or to any particular lifestyle or to any particular place of residence. This is an issue that goes to the core of the human experience: the need to be loved and to love and the need some people feel to have that bond formally recognised in a union called marriage … I personally hope that honest dialogue free from prejudice and intolerance will lead to same-sex marriage being recognised in this country and legislated in this parliament.”
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr151110.pdf
Sid Sidebottom MP, Member for Braddon, TAS
At a public forum during the 2010 election campaign.
Simon Crean MP, Member for Hotham, VIC
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/gay-marriage-bill-backed/
Stephen Jones MP, Member for Throsby, NSW
In Parliament (15 November 2010): “[H]aving focused on the issue [same-sex marriage] and having applied the core Labor values of equality, fairness and dignity, I believe that there is a case for change … We in this place must be very careful of mindless genuflection to tradition, because traditions change over time. There have been many matrimonial traditions which we now think of as absurd, if not abhorrent. Betrothal, dowry and a wife’s matrimonial vow of obedience to husband come to mind as examples.”
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr151110.pdf
Stephen Smith MP, Member for Perth, WA
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/alp-challenges-tony-abbott-to-agree-to-gay-marriage-conscience-vote-in-parliament/story-fnba0rxe-1226213394879
Steve Gibbons MP, Member for Bendigo, VIC
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/08/25/3301823.htm
Tanya Plibersek MP, Member for Sydney, NSW
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;page=0;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2011-02-09%2F0177%22;rec=0;resCount=Default
SENATE
Anne McEwen, Senator for South Australia
Told Rainbow Labor’s “3 Questions” website: “I support giving adult couples the legal right to marry if they choose to and for their marriage to be legally recognised. For me, it is a matter of ending discrimination against same sex couples and another step towards ensuring equality for all Australians regardless of their sexuality or gender.”
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:E4kEWfuqDuIJ:threequestions.com.au/state-of-play+ALP+President+%22Anne+McEwen%22+same-sex+marriage&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
Anne Urquhart, Senator for Tasmania
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/11/22/278781_tasmania-news.html
Carol Brown, Senator for Tasmania
http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CarolBrown1.pdf
Chris Evans, Senator for WA
Interview, 15 November 2011: “My personal view is that I support the right (of) gay people to marry.” (Full interview here)
Claire Moore, Senator for QLD
Response to Rainbow Labor’s ’3 Questions’ survey: “I believe that all adult couples should be able to marry if they so choose … It’s about time.”
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:8QIVB_jZ6EoJ:www.threequestions.com.au/content/alp-presidential-candidates-marriage-equality+%22Claire+Moore%22+gay+marriage&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
Dave Feeney, Senator for Victoria
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/11/11/feeney-why-i-support-a-conscience-vote-on-gay-marriage/
Doug Cameron, Senator for NSW
To a journalist (15 November 2010): “We still need to make that final change where rights are equal. I think that the Marriage Act should change and I think the Labor policy should. This is a national issue of human rights.”
http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/doug-cameron-leading-the-charge-008071.html
Gavin Marshall, Senator for Victoria
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/labor-must-do-what-is-just-and-back-samesex-marriage-20111115-1nh37.html
Jan McLucas, Senator for Queensland
Supported people rallying for marriage equality: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/11/20/136261_local-news.html
John Faulkner, Senator for New South Wales
http://www.senatorjohnfaulkner.com.au/file.php?file=/news/IDVUKAQCXY/index.html
Kate Lundy, Senator for the ACT
After voting for marriage equality at ACT Labor Conference (30 July 2011), Lundy tweeted: “I am proud to support the motion supporting Marriage Equality at our Annual Conference.”
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2011/07/30/avct-labor-for-marriage-equality/58099
Lisa Singh, Senator for Tasmania
On personal website: “I believe that the time is right for Australia to leave behind discrimination in marriage as we have in so many other ways, and embrace marriage equality.”
http://www.lisasingh.com.au/issues/marriage-equality/
Louise Pratt, Senator for WA
In Parliament (27 August 2008): “I look forward to a time when we will have removed at a federal level all discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and sexuality, to a time when my partner is not denied a passport because his gender is not recognised under our laws, to a time when my friends’ children all enjoy the same rights and protections under Commonwealth law regardless of whether their parents are straight or gay, to a time when, if my gay friends wish to be legally married, they can be.”
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/homepages/first_speech/sfs-I0T.htm
Matthew Thistlethwaite, Senator for New South Wales
http://wentworth-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/election-whisper-the-wentys-election-blog-edition-12/
Penny Wong, Senator for South Australia
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/penny-wong-urges-libs-to-support-same-sex-bill/story-e6frf7jx-1226213810955
Trish Crossin, Senator for NT
To a journalist (25 June 2009).
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/25/2608595.htm
Liberal Party of Australia
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Malcolm Turnbull MP, Member for Wentworth, NSW
On ABC’s Q&A (12 March 2012): “If you’re asking me the question, personally, I am not troubled – I would not be troubled if gay couples were able to have their relationships, their unions, termed ‘marriage’. But we in the Liberal Party will make a collective decision on this, it’s not going to be a conscience vote.”
Mal Washer MP, Member for Moore, WA
To a journalist (9 November 2010): “While I don’t personally have a problem with gay marriage, I believe my constituents would be against it.”
http://www.cairnsblog.net/2010/11/entsch-wants-gay-vote-at-odds-with-both.html
Teresa Gambaro MP, Member for Brisbane, QLD
In Parliament (15 November 2010): “There is a very strong argument that legal rights and social acceptance of gays and lesbians must continue to progress. Same-sex couples rightfully demand the practical benefits and social respect that heterosexual couples enjoy and I believe that the majority of Australians generally support equal rights for same-sex couples. I believe that those in my electorate of Brisbane would demand that such equal rights are adhered to. And I support the views in the community in relation to any proposed changes to the specific definition of marriage.”
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr151110.pdf
SENATE
Simon Birmingham, Senator for SA
To a journalist (12 November 2010): “There’s a certain inevitability of recognition of same-sex relationships, and equally there may be some that can’t bring themselves to vote for change … Social acceptance has grown significantly and that can only be a good thing. I certainly don’t think it’s a black and white, Left and Right issue … In principle, I would support [changing the Marriage Act].”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/lib-senator-backs-gay-marriage/story-fn59niix-1225952316383
Australian Greens
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Adam Bandt MP, Member for Melbourne, VIC
In Parliament: “Love knows no boundaries. Love knows no limits. And love knows when it has found its partner. There have been many attempts through history to limit love. All have failed. As we move further into the 21st century, I am confident that attempts to limit love will fail again and that full marriage equality will become a reality.” (15 November 2010)
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr151110.pdf
SENATE
Bob Brown, Senator for Tasmania
“In the 1950s there was a song which claimed ‘Love and marriage…go together like a horse and carriage’. In the 2010s same-sex couples in Australia are treated like we are still in the horse and carriage age – and no marriage with love. The Greens will continue to campaign against the Rudd Government’s regressive thinking.”
Christine Milne, Senator for Tasmania
In various forums and interviews.
Larissa Waters, Senator for Queensland
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/hundreds-rally-for-samesex-marriage-20110813-1irps.html
Lee Rhiannon, Senator for New South Wales
http://archive.leerhiannon.org.au/news/gillard-singing-from-old-labor-song-sheet-on-gay-marriage
Penny Wright, Senator for South Australia
Told forum: http://greens.org.au/content/marriage-equality-lgbtiq-issues-electoral-forum
Rachel Siewert, Senator for WA
In various forums and interviews.
Richard Di Natale, Senator for Victoria
http://vic.greens.org.au/content/day-14-dr-richard-di-natale%E2%80%99s-pledge-victoria
Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator for SA
On party website (29 September 2010): “The Greens believe that same-sex couples should have the same rights as other couples to celebrate their love and commitment through marriage. A majority of Australians support this … It is time for the community to have its voice heard on this important issue in our Federal Parliament.”
http://sarah-hanson-young.greensmps.org.au/content/petition/reintroducing-marriage-equality-amendment-bill
Scott Ludlum, Senator for WA
In various forums and interviews.
Independents
Andrew Wilkie MP, Member for Denison, TAS
In Parliament (15 November 2010): “My support for marriage equality is well known. However, for me, this important issue is not just to do with same-sex marriage. It is about equality: that everyone, regardless of their gender, race, sexual preference or religion be treated the same under Australian law. In essence, I believe passionately that all people are equal and should be treated as such. The fact is that in Australia, if you are a man and a woman and not married to anyone else, you can go and get married, but if you are a man and a man you cannot. The same situation applies if you are a woman wanting to marry a woman. In other words, the law is not treating people equally. It is legislated discrimination that treats some lovers as second-class citizens simply because of the people they want to marry. And that is not fair.”
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr151110.pdf
Australian Marriage Equality
