Wed, 24 Aug 2011 - 12:50
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Fletcher speaks in Parliamentary Debate on same sex marriage

Marriage and partnership is a critically important aspect of life and of personal identity, and I have benefitted greatly from the perspectives of the people of the electorate of Bradfield who have consulted with me on it, Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bradfield, said today during a debate in Parliament on the matter of same sex marriage.

Mr Fletcher noted that he was not sure of the motives of the Greens in bringing on the debate: “One possibility is that they have a genuine desire to review the current position on its merits, another possibility is that their overriding interest is to wedge the Labor Party by exposing tensions between the inner city left and the traditional working class base and the right wing of the ALP which represents them.”

“I have met with a number of constituents on this issue, and I do note that almost all of those who have made the effort to come into the office to speak to me about this issue have expressed the strong view that the current legal definition of marriage should be maintained,” said Mr Fletcher.

“I have received a substantial number of petitions from local church congregations in support of maintaining the current legal definition of marriage, for example: Corpus Christi Catholic Parish, St Ives – about 110 names; St John’s Anglican Church, Asquith  -  about 20 names; Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish –  about 250 names.”

Mr Fletcher said he had also received a substantial number of letters and emails on the topic, reflecting significant bodies of opinion from both those who are in favour of maintaining the current legal definition of marriage and those who wish to see it changed, but with the supporters of the status quo a little more strongly represented.

 “I am very pleased that in recent years Australia’s laws have been changed to remove discrimination against homosexuals and same-sex couples.  These include changes to laws in the areas of superannuation, taxation, social security, aged care and immigration,” said Mr Fletcher.

 “The Howard Government reformed the law in several areas in this respect, and it was the Howard Government that began the process that led to the 2008 legislation of the Rudd Government that substantively removed discrimination for same sex couples.

“These were all appropriate and necessary reforms.  They have taken Australia in a very positive direction, and thankfully a very long way from the time when homosexual acts were criminalised.

 “However, the institution of marriage has a cultural and religious significance developed over many centuries. Traditionally, the institution is based on the “the union of man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”. 

“That is the definition set out in our law and it continues to be my view that this definition should remain.

 “This in no way seeks to diminish the committed and loving relationships –both heterosexual and same sex – that exist outside of the institution of marriage.

Mr Fletcher said that while the consultation he had conducted did not constitute a statistically valid survey, it had given him a useful qualitative sense as to the balance of opinion in Bradfield.

“In my view the Howard Government accurately reflected the preponderance of community opinion in inserting into the Marriage Act the current definition of marriage. My consultation leads me to the view that this definition continues to reflect the preponderance of community opinion in Bradfield.

“I thank all of my constituents who have made the effort to contact me to put their views on this issue.  I have been struck by the sincerity and depth of feeling of those who have engaged with me on this issue, regardless of which perspective they take.”

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