THE fact that the South West and Australian community is so divided on the same sex marriage debate proves that the law should not be changed at this time.
This is Federal member for Forrest Nola Marino’s view on the controversial topic which has dominated headlines across the nation as pressure mounts to make it legal.
Mrs Marino acknowledged that many people in the community held strong views on the subject, both for and against same sex marriage.
She said media coverage and campaigns were evidence of the “contentious and divisive debate.”
“It is this very divisiveness that substantiates the Liberal Party position and my personal opinion that the community as a whole is not ready to accept the inclusion of same sex marriage in the Australian Marriage Act at this point in time,” Mrs Marino said.
“The Act defines a marriage as “the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life", and it is my position that a significant proportion of Australians currently agree with that definition.
“Many people across Australia and in the South West in particular have deeply held beliefs about marriage, especially its role in supporting families and the community. They regard the issue as more about these roles than a debate about individual rights.”
About 5000 people turned out at a Perth “Love Rally” on Sunday, which was Australia's largest turn out of people behind marriage equality.
Speakers included organisers, politicians, clergy, parents and grandparents of same sex partners and couples themselves.
The rally cry was to create the momentum for a cross-party, free conscience vote after federal politicians return to Canberra in August after their winter break.
They were encouraged to leave a message for their politicians on 1300 663 679.
A Fairfax/Ipsos poll last month revealed that public support to legalise same-sex marriage was at its highest level in almost five years.
The poll finds 68 per cent of voters support gay marriage whereas one quarter, or 25 per cent, are opposed.
The support is 3 percentage points higher than the 65 per cent recorded when the issue was last polled by Fairfax Media in August 2013.
It is the highest level of support recorded on the six occasions the issue has been tested by Fairfax since November 2010. Back then, support was a poll-low of 57 per cent.
The 25 per cent opposition to gay marriage is also the lowest level recorded in the poll. It is a fall of 3 points since August 2013 and down from a poll high of 37 per cent in November 2010.
