Same-sex survey: Religious freedoms a priority, Scott Morrison says

In his most significant contribution to the same-sex debate since the postal survey began, Scott Morrison speaks up.

Staunch supporter of traditional marriage Treasurer Scott Morrison says he’s keen to play a role in pushing for the inclusion of religious protections in the event of a Yes vote. Picture Kym Smith

Scott Morrison has provided an assurance that protections for religious freedoms would be a priority issue in any bill to legalise same sex marriage if a Yes vote is returned in the government’s postal survey.

In his most significant contribution to the same sex marriage debate since the postal survey commenced, the Treasurer — who is a staunch defender of traditional marriage — told Sky News that religious freedoms would be a major focus of the government.

Mr Morrison revealed that he is keen to play a role in pushing for the inclusion of religious protections in the event of a Yes vote being returned, and also defended the decision not to release any legislation until after the outcome is decided.

“Religious freedoms and the freedom of religion more generally is something I feel very strongly about,” he said.

“It’s one of the reasons I’ve been fairly active on this issue in the past and, if the survey were to return a Yes (vote), well, any bill that would then come forward — the prime minister’s made this point — he would be working very hard to ensure that religious freedoms were protected.”

“I can ensure Australians that this would be on the top of my list for that particular bill and how it went through.”

Mr Morrison’s comments follow those of Malcolm Turnbull who said, in response to an intervention from former prime minister John Howard, that he believed in religious freedom “even more strongly” than in same-sex marriage.

Mr Howard last week called on the government to disclose the bill to legalise same sex marriage before the end of the postal vote so Australians knew what they were voting for. Mr Howard said the failure to do so revealed the government response had been to “wash its hand of any responsibility” to protect religious freedoms.

Mr Morrison today encouraged those who believed in traditional marriage not to be “intimidated” out of expressing their views, and argued there had been some “disturbing behaviour” by those supporting the Yes campaign.

“It’s a confidential survey you can fill it out in accordance with your own values and beliefs,” he said. “I’d encourage all Australians to do that.”

However, he defended the government decision not to release the details of the legislation to legalise same sex marriage until after the outcome of the postal survey had been declared. Mr Morrison said this process would have been replicated had the initial plan for a compulsory plebiscite been passed by the parliament.

“That’s the process,” he said. “That was going to be the process under the previous compulsory attendance plebiscite.”

“That was exactly what was put to the parliament ... the only difference of method here is its being done through a non compulsory survey as opposed to a full attendance compulsory plebiscite.”

Mr Morrison said that he would be very “forward leaning” to ensure that adequate protections were included in any legislation to accompany same sex marriage.