No free vote on Australian marriage equality

Australia’s conservative Coalition party led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott has today ruled out any chance of a conscience vote on same-sex marriage.

A marathon meeting lasting six hours saw Coalition ministers and senators debate the issue, but found support for the free party vote – considered essential for marriage equality to pass both the upper and lower house – was outnumbered 66 to 33.

A cross-party private member’s bill supporting marriage equality was scheduled for formal introduction into the House of Representatives next Monday, but now looks likely to fail, with debate on the issue all but effectively deferred until after the 2017 election.

Speaking at a press conference, Abbott said there was “strong support” among both party room frontbenchers and backbenchers to maintain the traditional definition of marriage, reports the ABC.

“It was roughly 60:30, 60 supporting the existing position, 30 saying there should be a free vote,” he said.

“Now, of the 30 that said that there should be a free vote, quite a number, half a dozen maybe, said that if there was a free vote they would still support the existing position.”

While Abbott confirmed the Coalition would not change the status quo, he said MPs in the next parliamentary term would either receive a free vote or the issue would be taken to a plebiscite or public referendum.

“I’ve come to the view, I believe this is the party room view, that this is the last term in which the Coalition party room can be bound, although we will definitely maintain the current position for the life of this term,” he said.

“Going into the next election, we will finalise another position. The disposition of the party room this evening is that our position going into the next election should be that in a subsequent term of parliament, this is a matter that should rightly be put to the Australian people.”

Watch Prime Minister @TonyAbbottMHR's announcement of the vote against a conscience vote on same sex marriage http://t.co/N2XYyBDSko

— ABC News (@abcnews) August 11, 2015

The result follows an earlier special joint party meeting of Coalition MPs – both Liberals and Nationals – who debated the conscience vote on the issue alongside its timing.

Many Australian politicians and media commentators have already voiced their dismay at the result.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Australia was “stuck in the past” under Tony Abbott.

Australia stuck in the past under @TonyAbbottMHR – It's time for #MarriageEquality

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) August 11, 2015

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Tanya Plibersek tweeted that she will “keep fighting” despite the decision.

Most of Coalition may have just voted no to #MarriageEquality but love will win. We will keep fighting #WeCanDoThis pic.twitter.com/7Mhvw0GeRX

— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) August 11, 2015

Australian journalists, media commentators and celebrities also shared their disappointment at the result of the vote:

Did I expect the Coalition under @TonyAbbottMHR to support marriage equality? No. Do I still feel insulted by LNP bigotry? Damn (the) right.

— Richard Watts (@richardthewatts) August 11, 2015

https://twitter.com/jillastark/status/631059578604490752

https://twitter.com/MiaFreedman/status/631077751210971136

You may fight to keep our politics in the stone ages @TonyAbbottMHR BUT YOU WILL NEVER KEEP OUR PEOPLE THERE!! We will continue to progress!

— THE VERONICAS (@TheVeronicas) August 11, 2015

https://twitter.com/vanbadham/status/631067546653818880

Words by TROY NANKERVIS.