Same-sex marriage: Treasurer Scott Morrison wants to protect religious freedoms

TREASURER Scott Morrison has intervened to protect religious freedoms in the wake of the same-sex marriage vote, dramatically resuscitating his leadership credentials among conservative colleagues.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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TREASURER Scott Morrison has intervened to protect religious freedoms in the wake of the same-sex marriage vote, dramatically resuscitating his leadership credentials among conservative colleagues.

Today he calls on parliament to include parental rights and conscience protections in the marriage bill to be voted on before Christmas, and offers reassurance to No voters, after the nationwide postal survey found 61.6 per cent support for same-sex marriage.

“There are over four million people who voted No in this survey who are now coming to terms with the fact that, on this issue, they are a minority,” he said.

“We now need a bill that acts for 100 per cent of Australians, not 61 per cent. We now need a bill that addresses … these other very fundamental issues of faith and belief.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison wants parental rights included in the same-sex marriage bill. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I want those Australians [who voted No] to know that there are people in the Australian parliament who understand how they would be feeling and why they would be feeling that way.

“They’re not feeling that way because they harbour any ill will to people who voted Yes or any ill will to people of same-sex [relationships].

“They will be wondering what does this mean for my faith and my religion and my beliefs and what are the threats that have come as a result of this.

“I think they should be getting a clear message from the parliament that we understand and will be doing our best to ensure that those concerns or stresses will be relieved.”

In contrast to conservative colleagues Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann, who have been leading the marriage issue in Cabinet, Morrison says he wants protections legislated by the end of the year.

“I don’t think it should be delayed … we should seek to maximise those protections now.”

Australians voted in favour of the same-sex marriage bill. Picture: James Alcock/Getty Images

Specifically, Morrison is leading negotiations behind the scenes to ensure amendments to Senator Dean Smith’s minimalist bill. They include provisions allowing parents to withdraw their children from “Safe Schools” type classes that do not accord with their values, and offering protections for people, schools or charitable organisations which maintain a traditional view of marriage, so that they are not sacked or refused funding for their beliefs.

“Equally, whether someone is a member of an organisation that has a traditional view on marriage should be irrelevant to whether they can sit on a board, work as a doctor, work in the public sector,” he said.

Morrison’s intervention inevitably is being seen through the leadership prism, as Liberals jostle over who will be Malcolm Turnbull’s successor.

MPs advocating freedom of speech and religion protection amendments have been angered by suggestions from Dutton and Cormann that the protections should be put off until next year, and say they have been let down by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet over promises to guarantee freedom of religion, conscience and speech.

Dutton later clarified that he always wanted to ensure “proper parental protections” are included in the marriage bill. But his equivocation has damaged his standing among conservative MPs and has catapulted Morrison into first place as Turnbull’s heir apparent.

Ostracised after the Abbott coup, Morrison was last week hailed the “Comeback Conservative” by colleagues who describe his intervention on the marriage bill as “shrewd”.

Morrison dismisses any suggestion he is motivated by leadership ambitions, and says he is acting only on the basis of “long-standing conviction”.

“Malcolm and I have never had a cross word about this topic in our entire friendship over many years. He’s always had a deep respect for my beliefs and views.

“This is one of those issues where you have to lay down the politics and act in accordance with your convictions.

“The amendments my colleagues will move in the senate are not designed to prevent same-sex marriage. That issue is settled. They are to have a bill that is ultimately passed and would enable all Australians to unite around it.”

Morrison also acknowledges that “in protecting religious freedoms we must take care not to create a Trojan horse for religious extremism”.

“Scott has shown incredible consistency in defending religious freedoms and freedom of conscience,” said leading conservative Michael Sukkar, Assistant Minister to the Treasurer.

“So I’m not surprised that he’s forcefully defending those values at this time.”

Up-and-coming West Australian backbencher Andrew Hastie said: “Scott and I are of one mind.

“I share deep concerns that we’re not going to protect parents’ rights to raise and educate their children in conformity with their moral and religious convictions. I’m also worried for a lot of faith-based independent schools and their ability to teach about marriage in accordance with their religious traditions.”