Young leaders of the Nationals have ramped up pressure on opponents of same-sex marriage, voting to support reform and condemning the actions of their party elders.
At their annual conference on the weekend, the NSW Young Nationals passed motions supporting same-sex marriage and a free vote for the partyroom, and expressed "disappointment and disillusionment" with the actions of their federal leaders.
A statement released by the youth wing of the junior Coalition party said it was an important issue in regional Australia and that "a young homosexual man living in regional NSW is six times more likely to commit suicide" than other members of the community.
"This outcome continues a proud NSW Young Nats tradition of working within the Nationals to push the envelope ... challenging our senior counterparts and leading the debate on important issues to young people in regional NSW."
Claire Coulton, chairwoman of the NSW Nationals Women's Council, is disappointed that reform has been delayed by the federal party room.
"I believe, as most members of my generation do, that it's about equality for people who are our friends and our family members," Ms Coulton told Fairfax Media.
"It's a shame when something that is publicly supported becomes a game of political cat and mouse, and I think that's been disappointing to a lot of Coalition supporters."
Her father is Mark Coulton, the member for Parkes and chief whip for the Nationals. He opposes same-sex marriage.
Only three of the 21-member strong federal Nationals party room have publicly backed the reform. These numbers helped scuttle the motion for a conscience vote in a recent six-hour Coalition meeting because support is much higher among Liberals. The meeting resolved to deny Coalition MPs a conscience vote on the issue.
Dominic Hopkinson supports same-sex marriage but didn't contribute to the debate because of his position as chairman of the NSW Young Nationals.
"Sitting there, chairing the debate, I was incredibly proud of the civility and the respect that members showed during this debate," Mr Hopkinson said.
Fairfax Media understands the motion was passed by a two-thirds majority. There was also an unsuccessful motion supporting traditional marriage.
The motions passed by the NSW Young Nationals.
The move was praised by Australian Marriage Equality's Rodney Croome for sending "a message to leaders of the Coalition government that they are out of step with young voters, including young conservatives".
A recent Fairfax-Ipsos poll showed 88 per cent support for reform among people aged 18 to 25.
Young members of both the Coalition parties have been showing support for reform in various ways recently:
- After the Coalition party room was denied a free vote, Parliament's youngest MP, Wyatt Roy, announced he would cross the floor if the cross-party bill came to a vote.
- The University of Wollongong's Liberal Club unanimously passed a motion calling on MPs to "reject bigotry and prejudice" by voting for same-sex marriage.
- Young Coalition staff in the NSW Parliament were reportedly wearing rainbow socks after the federal party room scuttled a free vote.
Young Liberals federal president Simon Breheny told Fairfax Media their movement had consistently opposed changing the Marriage Act.
"There are strong views on either side of the debate within the Young Liberals, but each time the question has been put, it's been resolved in favour retaining the traditional definition of marriage."
