A MONTH ago this newspaper took a stance in support of marriage equality in Australia.
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We wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott calling on him to allow his MPs a conscience vote on the issue if a bill made it to the floor of the house.
We spoke to loving couples who want to, but cannot, get married and spoke about potential mental health issues in young people who don’t feel accepted or valued.
But it’s all fallen on deaf ears.
After a marathon joint party meeting on Tuesday night, Coalition members must now vote according to the party line – they can’t support marriage equality – effectively quashing hopes of same sex marriage being legislated in this parliamentary term.
Wannon MP Dan Tehan was one of 60 Coalition members who voted to accept the “status quo”.
His vote is an about-face from his comments in May when he told The Standard he would welcome a conscience vote on the matter.
Mr Tehan now prefers the new Liberal policy, waiting until the new term of government, when if re-elected, the Coalition will put the issue to a public referendum or plebiscite. He says that will give everyone an opportunity to use their conscience.
This latest move has damaged the government’s brand and is more regressive than progressive. Australia is now the only developed Western nation to have not legalised same-sex marriage. If Mr Abbott is thinking this delay will stifle the momentum the pro-marriage equality debate has gathered, he is mistaken.
The Standard remains convinced, along with about 72 per cent of the population, that the time for change is now.
To Mr Abbott, Mr Tehan and your Coalition colleagues: It’s in the wind, change is inevitable. Let’s end this discrimination now.