Rudd 'more out-of-touch than ever' on marriage

August 1, 2009

Equal Love (Canberra) says today's huge turnouts at rallies around the nation show that the Rudd Labor Government is falling further behind public opinion. The Canberra rally attracted 200 queer people and their supporters, and delivered a strong message to the ALP National Conference.

"The huge turnouts at the National Day of Action today, combined with the recent Galaxy poll showing 60% of Australians support marriage equality, demonstrate that the Rudd Labor Government is more out-of-touch than ever," said Equal Love (Canberra) campaign coordinator, Gab Hitch.

"The ALP National Conference, by defying the national trend towards acceptance of diverse relationships, has gone backwards. It has lost the plot," Hitch continued.

The Canberra rally delivered a "Sad Anniversary Card" to the office of Bob McMullan MP. Meredith Hunter, parliamentary convenor of the ACT Greens, vowed her party would not give up the fight for full marriage equality, and would push for civil union ceremonies in the ACT.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne and Sydney rallies attracted thousands of equality supporters. Events were held in other capital cities and some regional centres.

"The movement for marriage equality is growing ever stronger, and attracting a broader demographic. The ALP and the Liberal Party are only marginalising themselves by maintaining a discriminatory stance on marriage," Hitch added.

The Canberra rally also gathered submissions to the current Senate inquiry on the Greens' bill for marriage equality. Meanwhile, Christian fundamentalists will hold their own anti-gay breakfast at Parliament House on 13 August 2009, to celebrate five years of the ban on marriage equality.