Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm is urging politicians from all parties to work to achieve same sex marriage rather than mark out their territory.
“Same sex marriage is like a little seedling, and all the interest groups that want to claim it are like dogs marking their territory by cocking their leg on it. I fear that we are going to kill it,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
Senator Leyonhjelm said he has always been willing to vote for same sex marriage in any form that gives it the best chance of success – even his less favoured options – because the details were less important than getting it done.
“The conservatives who oppose same sex marriage will be loving this,” Senator Leyonhjelm said. “If a plebiscite fails to go ahead, they will be happy to blame the rabble on the other side and use it as an excuse to put the issue aside. Meanwhile, if same sex couples are left waiting, they will have every right to be disgusted with politicians they thought were on their side.
Senator Leyonhjelm says he has been actively lobbying Senator Brandis to consider and adopt aspects of the Liberal Democrats bill on the matter.
“I am pleased the Liberal Party has adopted exemptions for civil celebrants, along the lines of legislation my 2014 bill,” Senator Leyonhjelm said. “I have also shown Senator Brandis my 2016 bill exempting people who supply goods and services for weddings from breaching the Sex Discrimination Act. I believe that these kinds of tweaks help to make the legislation more acceptable to politicians in the Coalition and thus more likely to succeed.”
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Contact Gavin Atkins at Senator Leyonhjelm’s office on 0448 164 844.
