Same-sex marriage: 'It's time to test this in Parliament', says Entsch
GAY MARRIAGE
AFTER more than a decade leading the crusade to legalise same-sex marriage, it’s understandable Warren Entsch is becoming a trifle philosophical.
“It’s time to test this in the Parliament. And whatever the result, especially if it is voted against, I will accept it and walk away. I’ve done what I can over an extended period of time,” said the Federal Member for Leichhardt, which includes the Douglas Shire.
But Entsch is firm that this must be debated and there must be some kind of resolution.
“I know many couples who want to make this commitment and get married. This is their right and this is something they want to do while they are still alive,” he said.
Australians are clearly in favour of same-sex marriage – in a poll undertaken by Essential Research this year, 63 per cent of Australians voted in favour of same sex marriage, 25 per cent against and 12 per cent did not know – yet we trail behind many countries.
The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriages, with the first marriages performed in the Amsterdam City Hall on April 1 2001.
Since then, same-sex marriages have been performed legally in Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Canada (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Portugal (2010), Iceland (2010), Argentina (2010), Mexico City (2010), Denmark (2012), Brazil (2013), France (2013), Uruguay (2013), New Zealand (2013), the United Kingdom (2014),Luxembourg (2015), the United States (2015), Ireland (2015), Columbia (2016) and Finland (2017).
“I accept that this is a personal and politically-charged issue, but things have changed and as a progressive country, we should be moving ahead like the many other countries who have,” said Entsch.
This matter is likely to be on numerous agendas when parliament resumes in Canberra next week.
Besides the amount of time that has been spent debating this issue, Entsch is visibly annoyed by those who have the temerity to speak out, but do not have the courage to identify themselves.
“I am not, and never have been, scared to express my view. After all, I am a Liberal and this is an issue that means a lot to me. We simply cannot continue in this fashion, we need a decision and decide how we are going to get that decision,” said Entsch.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has advised his MPs to be in Canberra on Monday – a day earlier before Parliament resumes – to debate this issue at a special meeting on Monday afternoon.
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