Greens NSW Spokesperson for Sexuality and Gender Identity, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has welcomed a Marrickville Council resolution condemning the recent vote against marriage equality legislation in the NSW Parliament.
The NSW marriage equality Bill had been developed by a cross-partisan committee including Green and Labor members but was lost by just one vote.
Dr Faruqi said, “The Marrickville Council resolution confirms that the Inner West is amongst the most progressive areas in Australia.
“Marrickville Council was one of the first Councils to embrace marriage equality, under a Green Mayor in 2010.
“This Saturday, same-sex couples in the ACT will have the opportunity to marry, thanks to a united effort from the Canberra ALP – sadly couples in NSW won’t have the same because of ALP’s failure to bind its MPs on equality.
“Whilst local councillors voted to support same-sex marriage, Labor at the state level refuses to bind its MPs to vote for equality as a matter of policy.
“Luke Foley, the leader of the ALP in the Upper House, voted against the Same-Sex Marriage Bill just last month, and that vote was lost by just one vote.
“It is clear that on marriage equality, the Greens are the only party that can deliver every MP, every vote, every time”, Dr Faruqi concluded.
Before agreeing to pass the Marrickville Council Greens’ motion last night, Liberal and Labor Councillors voted to remove the section of the motion calling on political parties to follow the Greens lead and bind their MPs to vote consistently with their parties’ policies. The NSW Labor Left has passed multiple resolutions through its State Conferences stating its support for marriage equality, but Labor to date has refused to ensure its MPs vote to reflect these resolutions.
A copy of the original Marrickville Council Notice of Motion is below. It was passed with an amendment by the Liberal and Labor Councillors to remove point 3.
MOTION:
THAT Council:
1. notes that Marrickville Council recently affirmed its strong and ongoing commitment to marriage equality by writing to Federal MPs and urging support for national marriage equality legislation on behalf of local residents and its LGBTIQ communities;
2. notes with real concern that:
a. the Federal Government is currently mounting a legal challenge to marriage equality laws passed by the ACT Government; and
b. the NSW Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2013 developed by a cross-partisan committee was voted down in the NSW Upper House on Thursday 14 November 2013 by just one vote.
3. calls on all political parties to follow the example of the Greens and make laws for marriage equality matters of policy and principle and to bind their MPs to vote for marriage equality laws.
