Gay marriage bill: Bill Shorten to appeal for same sex marriage

BILL Shorten will today make a passionate plea to Parliament’s pride but also a stern warning that will reverberate around the country.

Bill Shorten’s marriage vow

BILL Shorten this morning will make a cross-party appeal to Parliament’s collective pride when he introduces Labor’s legislation for same sex marriage.

“Today, this Parliament can change a law that no longer represents modern Australia…and pass a law of which we can be collectively proud,” the Opposition Leader will tell the House of Representatives.

But he also will warn that changes to the Marriage Act are not guaranteed. “We should never imagine this change is inevitable. We should never think it will just happen. We have to step up, we have to rise to this moment,” he is set to say in what will be seen as a challenge to the Government.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is certain to ignore the appeal and the challenge by proceeding with his program of legislation related to the Budget, in particular measures for small business. “That’s what I’m absolutely focused on – getting the budget business boost through the Parliament and I invite Mr Shorten to join with me so that this legislation can be passed as swiftly as possible this week,” the Prime Minister told reporters on Sunday.

Mr Abbott is banking on the broad electorate accepting his priorities. He has declared the issue of marriage equality serious and important, but is in no rush to let Parliament debate it. The Government’s overwhelming numbers in the House of Representatives allow him to direct the agenda away from Labor’s private member’s bill.

The Opposition Leader will tell Parliament it was time to make same sex marriage a reality by making the unions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex Australians “equal under our laws”. “To the parents, children, friends and families of same-sex partners…we say just as the people you love are equal and valuable in your eyes, their relationship should be equal and valuable in the eyes of the law,” Mr Shorten is expected to say.

“To same-sex couples, we offer the right to celebrate your love with the deepest measure of devotion: marriage. 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.”