Australia: Gay Sen. Pushes Party on Marriage

Australia's gay finance minister broke with her party Saturday when she said she supports motions toward legalizing marriage equality, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Members of the South Australia Labor Party are calling on the national party to back their pro-gay legislation, but the national Labor Party has not taken a stance on marriage equality. Senator and finance minister Penny Wong, an out lesbian, had previously remained silent on the ongoing marriage equality battle in Australia, keeping in line with the national party's position. However, on Saturday, at a South Australian Labor Party conference, Wong broke with the national party and spoke in favor of pushing for a vote on the issue at the national conference in December.

''I have had the opportunity to advocate for equality at the highest levels of our party and within our party processes, as I do today,'' she said, according to the Herald. ''And I will do so at the next national conference. Talking about change is not the same as delivering it."