Gay Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman defends his friendly Mardi Gras embrace of Labor’s Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese
GAY federal Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman has hit back at critics over his friendly embrace with Labor leader Bill Shorten and Labor MP Anthony Albanese at Mardi Gras saying it was “no place for politics”.
North Shore
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GAY federal Liberal MP for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman has hit back at critics who were ruffled by his friendly embrace with Labor leader Bill Shorten and Labor MP Anthony Albanese stating that the Mardi Gras was “above politics”.
The former vice president of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association ruffled some feathers when photographs emerged of him embracing Mr Shorten and Grayndler MP Anthony Albanese during the Sydney parade on Saturday.
Mr Zimmerman said he was good friends with “Albo” and Saturday night was not a time for politics.
“Mardi gras is a time of celebration and is above politics,” he said.
“We were placed in the marshalling area next to the Labor guys.
“I know Albo well from working at the tourism and transport forum in Sydney and he was close mates with Joe (Hockey) so he and I get along .”
Mr Zimmerman has also stated that he would cross the floor to vote in favour of same sex marriage, despite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull backing away from comments made by Attorney-General George Brandis on a plebiscite by the end of the year.
“If a substantive bill came before the parliament, then yes I would cross the floor if the party instructed me otherwise,” Mr Zimmerman said.
Earlier this week Mr Brandis told media: “The bill to constitute this plebiscite will be introduced early in the life of the new parliament so we can have the plebiscite before the end of this year. In the event that there were to be a ‘yes’ vote, the government would legislate to give effect to the wishes of the people.”
The Prime Minister’s office refused to commit to this timeline telling the North Shore Times the timing of the plebiscite would be determined by the date of the Federal Election.
An Australian Electoral Commission spokesman said the organisation would not be commenting any further on when the plebiscite could be held.
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