ADVOCATES WELCOME REPORTS OF COALITION CONSCIENCE VOTE

A report in today's Australian newspaper that Coalition backbenchers will be allowed a conscience vote on marriage equality has been welcomed by advocates as "a breakthrough".

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,

"We now have a very large number of Coalition backbenchers to work with as we seek to build a parliamentary majority for equality."

"Up until today it seemed like the Coalition would vote as a block against marriage equality but now the Coalition's principle of individual freedom has prevailed thanks to the advocacy of people inside and outside the Coalition."

Mr Greenwich said Tony Abbott would not be breaking his election commitment to oppose marriage equality by allowing a conscience vote.

"Party policy opposing marriage equality will remain unchanged, but now backbenchers with strong feelings either way will be able to express that."

"Today's report is a breakthrough which will give heart to all supporters of reform."

According to today's Australian, Senior Liberals said Tony Abbott had privately conceded some Liberals wanted to vote for marriage equality. "He seems to be quite relaxed at backbenchers exercising their will if they so choose," one said yesterday. The sources said that backbenchers who voted for marriage equality would be seen as having exercised a right traditionally granted to Liberal MPs, rather than having crossed the floor and defied their leader. Click here >