The Labor Party must commit to binding its members in support of the Greens’ efforts to protect any state or territory based marriage equality laws and federal marriage equality reform, the Australian Greens have said.
“Paul Howes’ recognition that equality should be above party politics is welcome, but it is disappointing that it arrived after Labor lost government,” the Greens’ LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The Labor Party must now commit to binding its members in support of marriage equality.
“With the ACT poised to pass marriage equality legislation by November, same-sex marriage will be legal for the first time and we need to protect that from Tony Abbott’s narrow-minded belief in discrimination.
“The Greens will move to block any attempts by Tony Abbott to repeal those laws and Labor must commit to supporting that.
“Both Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese need to be upfront about whether they will genuinely support equality by binding the Labor Party if they become the leader.
“Marriage equality is an essential reform that has found its time in Australia. Tony Abbott and the Labor Party need to recognise that.”
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