27th May, 2015
Australian Christian Lobby head Lyle Shelton has described Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s announcement he would introduce a private member’s bill legalising same-sex marriage as "disappointing" and urged parliamentarians to vote against it.
Mr Shorten announced on Tuesday that he would introduce the bill, to be co-sponsored by Deputy Opposition leader Tanya Plibersek, next week. He told Fairfax Media that he was aware the bill wouldn’t have the universal support of his colleagues but said he believed "the time has well and truly come for the Parliament to debate marriage equality". "Our current law excludes some individuals, and to me, that is unacceptable," he said.
Mr Shelton said it was disappointing that "Australia’s alternative Prime Minister is legislating a family structure which requires a child to miss out on their mum or dad".
"Many Australians are watching with great concern as florists, photographers and cake makers in other countries are being legally punished simply because they prefer not to participate in a same-sex wedding," he said in a statement. "I wonder if Mr Shorten has considered the consequences of changing the definition of marriage."
Mr Shorten’s announcement follows an earlier announcement by the Greens that they would bring a Marriage Equality Bill for debate in the Senate on 18th June and look to have members vote on it on 12th November.
That decision came after 62 per cent of Irish voters voted ‘yes’ in last week’s referendum on legalising same-sex marriage.
– DAVID ADAMS
