Australian PM warned pro-traditional marriage will abandon pro-LGBT Government
The No campaign on same-sex marriage has warned the Turnbull government not to ignore religious freedoms or risk alienating “tens of thousands” of politically active members in a new grassroots conservative movement that could campaign against the Coalition at the next election.
The warning came after Tony Abbott last week highlighted the rise of a new conservative movement prepared to fight for Western culture and religious freedom as a result of the same-sex marriage debate.
In a move which could threaten the Liberal Party base, the No campaign yesterday revealed it had the “proven tools and infrastructure” to turn religious freedoms into an election issue.
A senior No campaign source told The Australian that many of its supporters felt they had been “taken for granted by a government who quite frankly has left many of them behind” and would be closely watching how religious freedoms were protected in the event of a Yes vote.
With voting closing yesterday in the $122 million same-sex marriage survey, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said that, as of Friday, 78.5 per cent of eligible voters, or 12.6 million Australians, had participated.
The outcome and the final participation rates will be revealed at 10am next Wednesday with the government having promised to pass a private member’s bill to allow same-sex marriage in the event of a Yes vote.
The No campaign has attempted to highlight some of the consequences of legalising same-sex marriage without adequate protections for freedom of speech, religion and conscience. It has now signalled that its campaigning power could be turned against the government in the event of a Yes vote if any private member’s bill fails to provide what it deems to be acceptable protections.
A senior No campaign source said the depth of support was “far larger than anyone actually realises”, with many supporters choosing to “contribute quietly and privately both in terms of volunteering and donating”.
“This has meant tens of thousands of campaigners and donors active during the marriage campaign,” the source said. “A majority of those on the campaign were first-time campaigners. A sophisticated and now proven set of tools and infrastructure has provided the framework for the grassroots to grow.
“They have a had positive experience, and are already asking what’s next. These are ordinary mainstream Australians who have had enough of being taken for granted.
“They will be watching closely to see who votes to protect their freedoms and rights to speak, believe and act, in the instance of a Yes vote. These people will have no choice but to carry their campaigning into the next election if they are let down again.”
The Labor caucus has already decided it will seek to advance a private member’s bill prepared by West Australian Liberal Dean Smith in the event of a Yes vote. Labor will try to ensure the bill is passed in its current form and resist attempts to amend it.
But the Smith bill has been attacked by No campaigners who argue it only carries narrow religious protections relating to wedding ceremonies for gay couples. They are pushing for broader protections which would protect faith-based institutions including charities, schools and service providers.
