The leader of Australia’s center-left Labor Party today introduced a same-sex marriage bill, but the Prime Minister says it’s just not a priority for him.
(Apologies – video starts immediately.)
72 percent of Australia’s nearly 24 million people support same-sex marriage. So does Bill Shorten, the leader of the center-left opposition party. And so does Christine Forster, a lawmaker in Shorten’s liberal Labor Party who also happens to be a lesbian, and the sister of Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Tony Abbott, a staunch Roman Catholic, however, does not.
Today, hoping to ride the momentum created by Ireland’s popular vote passage of marriage equality, Shorten stood before Parliament and introduced a bill that would extend marriage to same-sex couples.
“Our laws should be a mirror reflecting our great and generous country and our free, inclusive society,” Shorten said.Â
“When someone has found not just another person they can live with, but a person they can’t live without, then they should have the same right to the true qualities of a bond that runs deeper than any law,” Shorten said. “And we say to all young gay people: we are proud of you for who you are, you belong.”
Prime Minister Abbott, however, says that while marriage equality is a “significant issue,” is not among his current priorities.
What is?
According to ABC News Australia, “pushing Parliament to pass the budget’s multi-billion-dollar small business tax breaks.”
Above, clips of Shorten and Abbott.
Here, Shorten’s complete speech:
Â
Image: Screenshot via Bill Shorten/YouTube