(no subject)
ok this is long but is some idea of what is happening here on the gay marriage debate politically.
labor is bending over for the liberals again and not doing what their platform states part of which is to stand up for minority groups. it is absolutely sickening.
Mark Latham's Statement to the National Marriage Forum
4 August 2004
(presented by Nicola Roxon, Shadow Attorney-General)
Thank you to the National Marriage Coalition for inviting the Labor Party to participate today in this important forum about marriage. It is a credit to your church leaders and your communities that so many of you are here at Parliament House in Canberra, particularly at such short notice, to discuss the value of marriage and to reaffirm marriage as a strong and important institution within our community.
I would like to pass on apologies from Mark Latham, Leader of the Federal Labor Party, whose other commitments made before this forum was called have not allowed him to be here today. He has specifically asked me, as Labor's Shadow Attorney-General with direct responsibility for dealing with this matter in both policy and Parliamentary terms, to present to you the position of the Australian Labor Party on marriage.
Firstly, let me make clear, Labor does not support gay marriage.
Labor supports the institution of marriage as an important social, and for many a religious, union between a man and a woman.
Labor has stated this position from day one when this issue was raised and has repeated it many times in the Parliament. In fact, Federal Labor had made a decision on this issue last year, well before the Government presented its marriage legislation to the Parliament.
Our Leader, Mark Latham, has also made this clear in the multitude of radio and television interviews he has done since this issue arose in May this year, and as Shadow Attorney-General I have reiterated this position in countless forums and in both the print and electronic media.
However, there has been some confusion about the processes in the Parliament and a fair amount misinformation circulating about our position.
So I would like to take the opportunity to outline for you exactly what the Federal Labor Party position is on the various aspects of this proposed legislation, and explain why we recommended this Bill be referred to a Senate Committee for public comment.
As many of you would know, the Government's proposals to amend the Marriage Act 1961 would insert a definition of marriage, that marriage is "a union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others." The legislation would also prevent recognition in Australia of same sex marriages undertaken overseas.
Labor supports these provisions.
Labor has consistently stated publicly that we will not support gay marriage, and I make that statement again today. The changes to the Marriage Act are consistent with the existing common law and the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party will support these parts of the Bill.
We understand how strongly many people feel about retaining and promoting the institution of marriage between men and women and as a bedrock institution for families.
We must also acknowledge, however, that until this Bill was introduced there had not been any broad community debate in Australia about the need to put this definition in the Marriage Act, or about possibly changing the definition of marriage.
Labor does believe that the public should have the right to have a say on this matter, whether they support or oppose the Bill. That is why we supported sending the Bill to a Senate Committee. This is a normal process for many pieces of legislation that are controversial and that attract a lot of community interest. Labor sees this as an important part of the democratic process.
Given gay marriage is not currently legal and therefore not possible in Australia, we do not believe that the Senate Committee process puts the institution of marriage at risk in any way.
Your attendance here shows that there is a groundswell of concern by many that marriage may be in some way being threatened by the changing nature of our community. We also know there are some members of the gay and lesbian community, certainly not all, who would like to be able to enter into an officially recognised marriage.
It is this very argument, and the fact that the issue had not been widely discussed to date, that led the Labor Party to refer the Bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for an inquiry and broader community consultation. The closing date for submissions was 30 July and the Committee will undertake hearings and report by 7 October.
Early reports of thousands of submissions means there is a lot of interest in this Bill and we will look closely at the submissions. But Labor has no intention, now, after the inquiry finishes or after the election of advocating for gay marriage.
The Committee, through reading the submissions and hearing direct evidence from interested parties, may raise a range of issues, technical issues or other matters for debate in the future and these will be considered.
In particular the Committee will consider submissions on the question of inter-country adoptions by same-sex couples, which was another issue which the Government included in its original Bill. Labor does not support Commonwealth interference in the area of adoption. Adoption law and processes have always been the responsibility of the States and Territories, as the Prime Minister himself acknowledges. It is inconsistent and inappropriate for the Prime Minister to interfere in this issue.
I would also like delegates at this forum to note that Labor was disappointed in the way in which the Government chose to combine and confuse the two issues of marriage and adoption in their original Bill. It is clear that if they had wanted to just deal with the issue of marriage, and strengthening marriage as a fundamental social and religious institution in this country, the Government could have introduced this measure on its own - the Bill could have passed through the Parliament with less fuss and confusion.
In fact, Labor moved amendments in the House to remove the adoption provisions and deal just with marriage, but all of the Liberal and National Party members voted against this. It is true that parliamentary tactics are often difficult to unpack and explain, but is clear in this instance that the Government was more interested in playing politics with the issue of gay marriage (and using it as a symbol) than it was in putting into law the simple changes that could clarify the meaning of marriage.
This was unnecessary and a disappointment and I'm sure it is also of great disappointment to many of you in the church community.
On the last day of sittings the Government did try to squeeze in a new Bill, but the program, negotiations and timetables were already set for the last long day of sitting in the last session. If the Government was serious about wanting these changes, it would use the normal process of the parliament to get them through - not rush debate in a way that prevents proper procedures to be followed.
I note the Prime Minister's statement just today that he intends to reintroduce that second Bill using proper processes. If he does, we'll vote for it. Of course this is not the sort of detail the PM needs to bother himself with but it would help the rest of us, if that is his intention, for him to get his colleagues to put that second bill on the notice paper for the Senate to enable that vote.
So Labor's position against gay marriage is clear and unequivocal.
I must also advise, and I know as people of faith you will share this view, that Labor is also committed to the principles of tolerance, compassion and fairness. We are also strongly committed to identifying and removing discrimination in our society. Promoting the benefits of marriage and strengthening it as an institution should not and cannot be a cover for marginalising, attacking or excluding others - whether they are gay, from a different racial or religious background, or disabled.
I know that tolerance and compassion are principles that are also strongly advocated within the churches. I understand that many people here today share our belief that outside the institution of marriage there are many instances of discrimination against gay and lesbian members of the community, for example superannuation and taxation, which should be removed through legislative change. Only Labor is committed to doing that.
Through this process we will be consulting closely with the community and I look forward to many of the churches being involved in these consultations, and helping us look at ways in which these changes can be made most effectively.
An example of the steps we will take is the introduction of religious and racial anti-vilification laws - something that will protect and promote the right of religious freedom in this country. Sadly, some of the despicable threats we see being made in WA are an example of actions that need to be stopped and we will send a strong message against it.
Finally, I would like say that in the lead up to any Federal election there are many issues over which the major political parties will argue strongly. There any many areas where we think the Federal Government is putting more and more pressure on families - threatening Medicare, refusing to address increasing numbers of children growing up in jobless families, and its plans to put higher education further out of the reach of ordinary Australians.
These are just some of the areas where we strongly oppose the Government's plan for families.
But you can be assured that the issue that you are here to discuss today - the importance of marriage and keeping the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman - is an issue over which the major parties agree.
Thank you for asking the Labor Party to be here today and I trust that this will have clarified our position for you and your congregations.
labor is bending over for the liberals again and not doing what their platform states part of which is to stand up for minority groups. it is absolutely sickening.
Mark Latham's Statement to the National Marriage Forum
4 August 2004
(presented by Nicola Roxon, Shadow Attorney-General)
Thank you to the National Marriage Coalition for inviting the Labor Party to participate today in this important forum about marriage. It is a credit to your church leaders and your communities that so many of you are here at Parliament House in Canberra, particularly at such short notice, to discuss the value of marriage and to reaffirm marriage as a strong and important institution within our community.
I would like to pass on apologies from Mark Latham, Leader of the Federal Labor Party, whose other commitments made before this forum was called have not allowed him to be here today. He has specifically asked me, as Labor's Shadow Attorney-General with direct responsibility for dealing with this matter in both policy and Parliamentary terms, to present to you the position of the Australian Labor Party on marriage.
Firstly, let me make clear, Labor does not support gay marriage.
Labor supports the institution of marriage as an important social, and for many a religious, union between a man and a woman.
Labor has stated this position from day one when this issue was raised and has repeated it many times in the Parliament. In fact, Federal Labor had made a decision on this issue last year, well before the Government presented its marriage legislation to the Parliament.
Our Leader, Mark Latham, has also made this clear in the multitude of radio and television interviews he has done since this issue arose in May this year, and as Shadow Attorney-General I have reiterated this position in countless forums and in both the print and electronic media.
However, there has been some confusion about the processes in the Parliament and a fair amount misinformation circulating about our position.
So I would like to take the opportunity to outline for you exactly what the Federal Labor Party position is on the various aspects of this proposed legislation, and explain why we recommended this Bill be referred to a Senate Committee for public comment.
As many of you would know, the Government's proposals to amend the Marriage Act 1961 would insert a definition of marriage, that marriage is "a union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others." The legislation would also prevent recognition in Australia of same sex marriages undertaken overseas.
Labor supports these provisions.
Labor has consistently stated publicly that we will not support gay marriage, and I make that statement again today. The changes to the Marriage Act are consistent with the existing common law and the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party will support these parts of the Bill.
We understand how strongly many people feel about retaining and promoting the institution of marriage between men and women and as a bedrock institution for families.
We must also acknowledge, however, that until this Bill was introduced there had not been any broad community debate in Australia about the need to put this definition in the Marriage Act, or about possibly changing the definition of marriage.
Labor does believe that the public should have the right to have a say on this matter, whether they support or oppose the Bill. That is why we supported sending the Bill to a Senate Committee. This is a normal process for many pieces of legislation that are controversial and that attract a lot of community interest. Labor sees this as an important part of the democratic process.
Given gay marriage is not currently legal and therefore not possible in Australia, we do not believe that the Senate Committee process puts the institution of marriage at risk in any way.
Your attendance here shows that there is a groundswell of concern by many that marriage may be in some way being threatened by the changing nature of our community. We also know there are some members of the gay and lesbian community, certainly not all, who would like to be able to enter into an officially recognised marriage.
It is this very argument, and the fact that the issue had not been widely discussed to date, that led the Labor Party to refer the Bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for an inquiry and broader community consultation. The closing date for submissions was 30 July and the Committee will undertake hearings and report by 7 October.
Early reports of thousands of submissions means there is a lot of interest in this Bill and we will look closely at the submissions. But Labor has no intention, now, after the inquiry finishes or after the election of advocating for gay marriage.
The Committee, through reading the submissions and hearing direct evidence from interested parties, may raise a range of issues, technical issues or other matters for debate in the future and these will be considered.
In particular the Committee will consider submissions on the question of inter-country adoptions by same-sex couples, which was another issue which the Government included in its original Bill. Labor does not support Commonwealth interference in the area of adoption. Adoption law and processes have always been the responsibility of the States and Territories, as the Prime Minister himself acknowledges. It is inconsistent and inappropriate for the Prime Minister to interfere in this issue.
I would also like delegates at this forum to note that Labor was disappointed in the way in which the Government chose to combine and confuse the two issues of marriage and adoption in their original Bill. It is clear that if they had wanted to just deal with the issue of marriage, and strengthening marriage as a fundamental social and religious institution in this country, the Government could have introduced this measure on its own - the Bill could have passed through the Parliament with less fuss and confusion.
In fact, Labor moved amendments in the House to remove the adoption provisions and deal just with marriage, but all of the Liberal and National Party members voted against this. It is true that parliamentary tactics are often difficult to unpack and explain, but is clear in this instance that the Government was more interested in playing politics with the issue of gay marriage (and using it as a symbol) than it was in putting into law the simple changes that could clarify the meaning of marriage.
This was unnecessary and a disappointment and I'm sure it is also of great disappointment to many of you in the church community.
On the last day of sittings the Government did try to squeeze in a new Bill, but the program, negotiations and timetables were already set for the last long day of sitting in the last session. If the Government was serious about wanting these changes, it would use the normal process of the parliament to get them through - not rush debate in a way that prevents proper procedures to be followed.
I note the Prime Minister's statement just today that he intends to reintroduce that second Bill using proper processes. If he does, we'll vote for it. Of course this is not the sort of detail the PM needs to bother himself with but it would help the rest of us, if that is his intention, for him to get his colleagues to put that second bill on the notice paper for the Senate to enable that vote.
So Labor's position against gay marriage is clear and unequivocal.
I must also advise, and I know as people of faith you will share this view, that Labor is also committed to the principles of tolerance, compassion and fairness. We are also strongly committed to identifying and removing discrimination in our society. Promoting the benefits of marriage and strengthening it as an institution should not and cannot be a cover for marginalising, attacking or excluding others - whether they are gay, from a different racial or religious background, or disabled.
I know that tolerance and compassion are principles that are also strongly advocated within the churches. I understand that many people here today share our belief that outside the institution of marriage there are many instances of discrimination against gay and lesbian members of the community, for example superannuation and taxation, which should be removed through legislative change. Only Labor is committed to doing that.
Through this process we will be consulting closely with the community and I look forward to many of the churches being involved in these consultations, and helping us look at ways in which these changes can be made most effectively.
An example of the steps we will take is the introduction of religious and racial anti-vilification laws - something that will protect and promote the right of religious freedom in this country. Sadly, some of the despicable threats we see being made in WA are an example of actions that need to be stopped and we will send a strong message against it.
Finally, I would like say that in the lead up to any Federal election there are many issues over which the major political parties will argue strongly. There any many areas where we think the Federal Government is putting more and more pressure on families - threatening Medicare, refusing to address increasing numbers of children growing up in jobless families, and its plans to put higher education further out of the reach of ordinary Australians.
These are just some of the areas where we strongly oppose the Government's plan for families.
But you can be assured that the issue that you are here to discuss today - the importance of marriage and keeping the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman - is an issue over which the major parties agree.
Thank you for asking the Labor Party to be here today and I trust that this will have clarified our position for you and your congregations.