No move forward for Australian’s in the state of New South Wales, as the state ALP Conference has failed to endorse full marriage rights for same-sex couples this week.
The motion was introduced to by NSW Labor General Secretary Sam Dastiyari and seconded by openly lesbian MLC Penny Sharpe (pictured).
The motion read: “The conference welcomes the removal of discrimination against same sex couples in state and federal law.”
“Conference notes the branches motions about same sex marriage. Conferences refers the issue of same sex marriage to National Conference.”
Sharpe, while speaking for the motion, acknowledged it was not the motion she had personally wanted.
The motion was supported by both opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage, but speakers who identified themselves as supporters of marriage equality vastly outnumbered those who identified themselves as opponents.
Joining Dastiyari and Sharpe as speakers in support of marriage equality were Federal ministers Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek and the National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes – though he conceded that a majority of the members of his union were not yet supporters.
Plibersek told the conference that marriage was a civil issue, and assured churches that no one in the campaign for marriage equality believed that churches should be forced to marry couples against their will.
These were joined by a veteran unionist and openly gay man Michael Flynn who spoken of the discrimination and bullying he had faced as a young person in the 50′s and 60′s and his wish to marry his long term partner, and the founder of PFLAG Newcastle who described herself as a straight Christian who worked in the Catholic School system and also supported marriage equality.
If applause and comments shouted from the floor of the conference during speeches were an indication of support then a majority in the room were also supporters.
However, speculation overnight was that the ALP’s right faction had flexed it’s considerable muscle in NSW to ensure the deferral of debate on the issue to the National conference.
Only two speakers identified themselves as opponents of marriage equality- the Federal member for Robertson, Deborah O’Neill, and the Federal member for Fowler, Chris Hayes. Both said their opposition was rooted in faith. Hayes told the conference he had also surveyed his electorate on the issue and found it opposed while O’Neill speculated on the effect same-sex marriage might have on religious freedom.
No one spoke against the motion and it was passed on voiced alongside a number of amendments to the Social Justice committee’s report.
Marriage equality supporters speaking at the conference stressed it was important for the debate to take place respectfully with opponents to the change, but also said now was the time for people to lobby their MPs and union leaders heavily in the lead up to the December National Conference and encouraged Labor and union supporters to tell their stories through Rainbow Labor’s ThreeQuestions.com.au website, which was formally launched at the conference as a fringe event.
The motion comes just days after Prime Minster Julia Gillard stated that a favorable vote at the national conference would not necessarily mean a change in government policy.
The PM has repeatedly stated her belief that marriage is the union on a man and a woman.
The motion’s seconder, Penny Sharpe told the Star Observer that the motion had been agreed between “a number of players in the debate on the basis of it going through”.
“The motion that I would have liked to have seen would have been one that did more than refer the issue,” Sharpe said, “We weren’t able to get that but we were able to get a free vote at national conference and it’s game on from there.”
“The important thing about the motion was that it basically supported the removal of discrimination against same-sex couples both state and federally. That in itself is very important.”
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said he hoped those who supported equality wouldturn this setback into a call for action ahead of the ALP’s national conference.
“We know a clear majority of ALP voters, State conferences, and State Leaders support reform, but this NSW setback proves the battle is far from over, Greenwich said.
He said every Australian who supports equality has a role to play in making history and delivering an outcome 75% of Australians expect.
“It is vital that supporters of equality continue to express their views to their MPs and Senators. To deliver the outcome we all believe in, we must email, phone, and meet with our parliamentarians as a matter of urgency,” Greenwich said.
Supporters of reform have until mid August to share their views with MPs, after which time MPs will report back to parliament on their electorates’ views on the issue.
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