Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer says the Coalition will “evolve” to eventually support marriage equality legislation, while publically declaring her support for same-sex marriage.
O’Dwyer told Parliament on Monday that she supported the new Marriage Equality bill introduced by Greens MP Adam Bandt and Independent Andrew Wilkie, and that she didn’t believe extending the definition of the Marriage Act would “lessen the status” of families.
Saying she was “comfortable with the idea of same-sex marriage”, she compared the Coalition’s competing views on marriage equality to that of her own family.
“There will be some people in my own family who will be disappointed with my personal position on this subject because they have a sincere view that marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. There will be others in my family though, whose own ability to marry is predicated on such a change” she said.
Parliament MP’s voted to reject marriage equality legislation in September last year when Opposition leader Tony Abbott refused to allow his MP’s a free vote on the issue.
Finance Minister Penny Wong blamed the Coalition for the bill’s defeat, despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard also opposing it.
O’Dwyer said the Coalition hadn’t yet debated the position it would take on the issue in the upcoming election, but expected its policies would eventually reflect public attitudes.
”In due course, I expect our policy on this area to evolve in step with society’s views,” she said.
Read Kelly O’Dwyers full speech on same-sex marriage delivered in parliament yesterday