Marriage equality without the inauthenticity

Just because the election is over doesn’t alter Labor’s commitment to secure marriage equality legislation without a divisive and costly plebiscite.

In an interview earlier today, Labor leader Bill Shorten said he would keep trying for a conscience vote in the parliament on same-sex marriage before considering the Opposition’s next moves.

“Well let’s see if we can’t have a conscience vote in the parliament first off,” Shorten said.

“What is the case for $160m to be spent on a taxpayer funded opinion poll which the hard right of the Liberal Party have said they’re not going to be bound by anyway?

“Australians can smell inauthenticity, insincerity and political games.”

“We saw Mr Turnbull so unable to control his colleagues that he’s given a leave pass to his Cabinet colleagues on this issue of not being bound by the plebiscite.

“I think that Mr Turnbull needs to pick up one of the lessons from this election; it is a lesson for all of us in politics: the more you stick to your own conscience, the more you stick to what you actually believe, the better this country will run.

“Australians can smell inauthenticity, insincerity and political games a mile away.

“I think Mr Turnbull would do himself a big favour if he stuck to his old views before he became Liberal leader,” Shorten said.

This article originally appeared in the Labor Herald.