|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

Australia Bargains with Marriage Equality


AUSTRALIA  MAP X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

As Australian leaders continued to negotiate Monday on forming a new government, Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie presented a list of demands including a conscience vote on marriage equality to Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott.

According to The Australian, the pro-equality Wilkie presented the list of demands late Monday afternoon in meetings with Gillard and Abbott. Neither Gillard nor Abbott support marriage equality.

“Mr Wilkie's national demands include maximum $1 bets and $120/hour loss limits on pokies machines, an increase to all government pensions, including dental care in medicare, a conscience vote on gay marriage and increased aged care funding,” reported The Australian.

Wilkie is one of four politicians playing the role of “kingmaker” as the parties struggle to form a minority government in the wake of national elections that left Australia with its first hung parliament since World War II.

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. Page 1 of 1
Reader Comments
  • Name: Joseph
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 2:51:10 PM
    Hometown: Montgomery, AL

    Comment:

    Then, Squeek, please explain why people aren't demanding that they have the right to vote on speed limits or seat belt laws or motorcycle helmets or any of the myriad of other things that have serious effects on their daily lives? It seems that this "right to vote" is being seriously misapplied by people of CERTAIN political philosophies. The old IOKIYAR seems to be rearing its very ugly head once again.

  • Name: the lone ranger
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 1:31:09 PM
    Hometown: Tucson AZ

    Comment:

    I think a "conscience vote" means he advocates that MPs don't have to feel constrained by their party's platform and can vote what they personally believe. I don't know how this would bode for marriage equality in Australia (it could be good, if there are some equality-minded members within the otherwise more conservative parties), but at least the citizenry would know how their MP stands.

  • Name: Squeek
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 10:49:35 AM
    Hometown: Tucson

    Comment:

    Except if things like this weren't put to a vote, you would get clamors of 'not fair' from the majority. Democracies only work if people can have a say in most affairs.

  • Name: Dj
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 10:05:44 AM
    Hometown: World

    Comment:

    Equality should never be up for a vote. You are either equal or you are not. In any governmental entity claiming they are proponents of equality, this has to be the standard.

  • Name: Daniel S
    Date posted: 8/30/2010 9:32:13 AM
    Hometown: New Hope, PA

    Comment:

    Nothing but praise for Mr. Wilkie in forcing the two big leaders to confront an issue that they clearly don't want to deal with.



Don't Miss
  • Best of Broadway Smash: Why You Will Love It

    Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, two of the producers of NBC’s new critically acclaimed musical series, explain why the backstage drama of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe has mass appeal and why big stars like Anjelica Huston, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters, and Nick Jonas were eager to appear in it.

  • Best of Broadway How Broadway Does a Flea Market

    Find out why actress Kathleen Chalfant calls the annual Flea Market and Grand Auction in Times Square "the most glamorous flea market you've ever seen." It raised half a million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS.

  • Travel Slideshow Flag Gayest Cities in America, 2012

    It's no secret that megalopolises New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles have robust LGBT life — and we've even heard tell of little queer hoods like the Castro and P-Town. This isn't that list.

 
 
Advocate Subscribe Promo Banner 300x50
 
Follow Us Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterSubscribe to our RSS feedsDownload our app
Facebook Activity
 
1056 COVER X135 | ADVOCATE.COM
Today's Headlines