Abbott prevents conscience vote on same-sex marriage

THE Greens push to legalise same-sex marriage is doomed, with Tony Abbott confirming he will deny Liberal Party MPs a conscience vote on the issue, even if Labor grants its MPs a free vote.

The Opposition Leader's position, confirmed yesterday, means there is no chance that the present parliament could amend the Marriage Act, even if most Labor MPs support the change.

This is because a significant number of MPs from the Labor Right strongly oppose same-sex marriage and, if given the freedom to vote according to their conscience, would side with the Coalition. Labor is engaged in a tense internal debate about whether to change its platform at December's national conference to endorse same-sex marriage, with the Left convinced such a move would help regain the support of former ALP voters who have switched to the Greens.

But with much of the Labor Right opposed to the idea on moral grounds, faction leaders have been pressing for the issue to be declared a conscience vote. This would allow Labor MPs, particularly those in inner-city seats where support for same-sex marriage is at its strongest, to represent their constituents' views.

Yesterday Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on Mr Abbott to allow a free vote among Liberal MPs. "What is the big deal here? If two committed people want to marry, well, you know, good on them," she said.

Mr Abbott's spokesman said the party's policy opposed same-sex marriage.

"The Coalition's policy is that marriage is between a man and a woman," the spokesman said. "We don't have conscience votes on matters of policy."

A spokesman for Nationals leader Warren Truss said the party opposed the amendment.

However, influential Liberals have warned Mr Abbott to be prepared for a debate on the issue in his party if Labor MPs are given a conscience vote. "It's Labor's problem for now and we're happy to keep it that way, but some day it's going to be ours," one Liberal source told The Australian.

"It will be very hard for a party that prides itself on giving its members greater freedoms than the Labor Party to enforce a party vote on an issue that has a moral dimension once Labor has declared a conscience vote."

Earlier yesterday, Senator Hanson-Young said it was time for Mr Abbott to allow Liberal MPs a conscience vote. "The idea of marriage only being between a man and a woman is not just outdated, but extremely, extremely defamatory," Senator Hanson-Young said.

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