By LAURA WAKELY
POLITICIANS in the West have voiced their views on same-sex marriage as bills to legalise the unions go before parliament.
Two separate bills to legalise same-sex marriage have entered into Federal Parliament, while one bill will also be debated in Victorian Parliament.
In Canberra, Labor politicians will be given a conscience vote on the issue, but just two of the West’s five representatives have decided on their view.
Prime Minister and Lalor MP Julia Gillard, who was attending the G20 summit and unable to answer Star’s questions, does not support same-sex marriage.
But her colleague, Attorney-General and Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon said she was “looking forward” to voting in support of same-sex marriage.
Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou refused to comment, while Gorton MP Brendan O’Connor would not reveal his view, but said he “respected” people’s passionate opinions on the issue.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten is yet to decide whether he’ll support either bill.
While Mr Shorten told Star he could see the argument from people who say same-sex marriage isn’t consistent with their religious values, he was also “heavily influenced” by the views of retired High Court judge and social advocate Michael Kirby.
“His argument is that if we accept being gay is not anti-social, which it’s clearly not, then how can you only have some rights in society and not others?” Mr Shorten said.
“And he’s also said, which I find influential and persuasive, how is it that if a gay couple is married, how does that affect someone else’s marriage?”
There was overwhelming support for same-sex marriage among state politicians, with six of the 10 politicians surveyed in favour of the change.
Tarneit MP Tim Pallas said marriage should be about two people in a “loving, committed relationship”.
“We should not stand in the way of two people who love each other being able to make that commitment,” he said.
Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins said legalising same-sex marriage would also give same-sex couples equal rights for parenting, as only one name can appear on the birth certificate of a child with same-sex parents.
Western Metropolitan MP Colleen Hartland said the Greens were strong advocates for marriage equality, which she said would discourage discrimination against members of the homosexual community.
Altona MP Jill Hennessy, Niddrie MP Ben Carroll and Derrimut MP Telmo Languillier are also in favour of the motion.
But Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn said marriage was “really about having kids” and said he did not support same-sex couple having children or getting married.
“It’s a social experiment using kids as guinea pigs,” Mr Finn said.
“We don’t know in 10, 20, 40 years, what these kids are going to grow into.”
Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz echoed his views.
“A mother and a father serve very distinct roles in the upbringing of a child, and is this arrangement is the optimal environment in which a child should develop,” Ms Kairouz said.
“Same-sex marriage, by its very definition, cannot provide this environment for a child.”
Star did not receive a response from Williamstown MP Wade Noonan, Footscray MP Marsha Thomson or Western Metropolitan MP Andrew Elsbury before going to print.
The debate will continue in both parliaments later this year.
