VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

Saturday, May 03, 02:26:42amLogin ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time ]
Subject: Labor Are Anti-Gay, Too


Author:
No name
[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
Date Posted: Monday, May 31, 10:51:24pm
In reply to: Sexuality Officer 's message, "Same-Sex Marriage Debate" on Wednesday, May 19, 11:04:53pm

Here's a newsstory that appeared in the 'Herald Sun' today. Our suspicions were right: Labor is no better than Liberal. And to think that I was considering voting for the arseholes!


LABOR BACKS GAY MARRIAGE BAN

01jun04

FEDERAL Labor MPs have decided to support the Government's proposed ban on gay marriages but will vote against banning gay couples from adopting children from overseas.

But a Labor government would immediately begin an audit of existing laws to remove all discrimination on the basis of sexuality, effectively giving same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual de facto couples.
Caucus today endorsed a shadow ministry plan to vote with the Government on the changes to the Marriage Act to confirm that marriage was a union between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others.

Despite some backbench opposition, it also voted to oppose Family Law Act changes that would prohibit gay couples from adopting overseas.

Instead, it will seek to refer the proposals to a Senate committee.

"It is inconsistent and inappropriate for the PM to try and interfere in this issue simply because some children are being adopted from overseas," Opposition attorney-general spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said in a statement.

"Rigorous eligibility standards apply at the state and territory level and we have confidence that those processes ensure the best interests of the child are paramount.

"Labor will move amendments to this Bill and refer the Bill to a Senate Committee for a full exploration of the technical issues that arise and to ensure the broader community has an opportunity to express their views on this Bill."

Ms Roxon said Labor would not oppose Prime Minister John Howard's measures to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and would not oppose a ban on recognising foreign same sex marriages.

"While Labor questions the PM's motives and reasons for bringing on this issue for debate now, and questions whether it is necessary, Labor does not oppose these parts of the Bill which merely confirm existing law and our previous commitments to keeping marriage as a heterosexual institution," she said.

"More importantly, Labor restates its commitment to remove discriminatory provisions from commonwealth legislation on the basis of sexuality, following a full audit of existing laws."

The audit would begin immediately after a Labor Government took office and would address issues such as superannuation, taxation and social security.

"When complete, this will give same sex couples the rights and recognition of heterosexual de facto couples," she said.

Opposition frontbencher Julia Gillard said the proposed changes to the Marriage Act did not represent real change and were not worth getting excited about.

Ms Gillard, the manager of opposition business, said people understood why the Government was motivated to put the legislation forward.

"People also understand that, insofar as it purports to change the Marriage Act, it's really doing nothing except reaffirming the existing law," Ms Gillard told reporters.

"In that circumstance, Labor members and community members generally understand that it's not worth getting hot under the collar about."

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:
Subject Author Date
Howard ... would you just shut up?!No nameTuesday, June 01, 03:33:24am
    Re: Howard ... would you just shut up?!SteveWednesday, August 04, 08:16:07pm


    Post a message:
    This forum requires an account to post.
    [ Create Account ]
    [ Login ]
    [ Contact Forum Admin ]


    Forum timezone: GMT-8
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.