Wannon candidates' views on same-sex marriage

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THE same-sex marriage debate is expected to heat up in the looming federal election but advocates fear it could hurt those most vulnerable.

Candidates for the Wannon poll, which has to be held before January next year, are already pushing their stances.

The emotive debate was in the headlines on Friday when federal Nationals MP Andrew Broad compared same-sex couples to randy rams.

"Do I support calling a relationship between a man and a man, and a woman and a woman marriage? No I don't," Mr Broad told the Sunraysia Daily.

"I think a bicycle is not a tricycle and relationships have different names.

“I can put the rams in the paddock and they might mount one another but no lambs will come out.”

Shane Hernane, project worker from Safe in the South-West, said Mr Broad’s comments were offensive.

“Comments such as these really hurt the members of our community, who are already having trouble with their identity and self-worth,” Mr Hernane said.

“The agenda focus for the election will hopefully lead to a positive outcome and equality for everyone, irrespective of gender.

“I just hope we don’t bring more hurt to people who are already suffering from the negativity.”

Mr Hernane praised the supportive nature of the Warrnambool community.

“We estimate that throughout the greater community, there’s around 60 to 70 per cent support for same-sex couples and their families and we want to focus on the positives,” he said. 

Federal MP for Wannon Dan Tehan said he supported the Liberal Party stance to put the matter of marriage equality to the people through a plebiscite.

“Our view is that the people should decide,” he said. 

But Labor’s Wannon candidate Michael Barling supports marriage equality.

Mr Barling said from a legislative framework, parliamentarians needed to lead on what was fair and what was right.

“I think it’s discriminatory to have one set of rules for one and not for the others,” he said.

“When we make same-sex couples go through extra hurdles that others don't have to, we have citizens who aren’t valued.”

Mr Barling said the alienation felt from a plebiscite and the resulting arguments could continue to hurt those most vulnerable.

“The people at the forefront of a debate are often the ones that are the most hurt,” he said.

“I can’t assume to know what these people are going through.

“I am here to support them along the way to equality.”

Wannon Greens candidate Thomas Campbell said marriage equality should be considered by a democratic vote in federal parliament.