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Aussie Right Wing Labor Minister wants Labor to back gay marriage

Mr Arbib is the first frontbencher to break his silence on the issue.  The NSW factional powerbroker told The Weekend Australian his view was that gay people should have the legal right to marry. And he said all MPs should be given a conscience vote on the controversial issue.

Until now, only Labor’s left-wing factional powerbrokers have come in on the issue. Reports the

Senator Arbib has major influence in the Right and his decision to break ranks will have an enormous impact on the debate within the ALP. “If I was the parent of a gay son or daughter I don’t know how I could tell them they didn’t have the same rights as I do,” he said yesterday.

His stance is designed to push the party to take a progressive lead on the issue and bolster its credentials in inner-city seats where it has been bleeding voters to the Greens, who have championed gay marriage.

Many right-wing MPs, who have historically been opposed to gay marriage and moved to ensure Labor opposed such unions, have shifted position.

I recently started a conversation on my Face book Page about talking to Republicans here in the USA; about LGBT Equality. My idea came from the thought that with regard to immigration equality and the conscience of America, maybe just one or two republicans would show human heart and be available to advocate on what might otherwise ALWAYS be a wedge issue .

Well who would have guessed the idea may not be so bad after all. Lets do it the OZ way!

The ALP’s next opportunity to review its position will be the 2012 national conference but some believe it could be reviewed earlier through the parliamentary party. It is here that Senator Arbib and others, including Australian Workers’ Union national secretary Paul Howes, are likely to push for a conscience vote.

“I understand the Labor Party platform does not reflect that view at the moment but I hope one day that view changes,” he said.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

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