Conservatives will continue their fight to bolster religious protections in same-sex marriage legislation when deliberations shift to the House of Representatives next week, despite suffering a thumping defeat in the Senate on Wednesday.
Applause erupted and tears were shed as senators voted 43 to 12 to allow gay couples to wed, the first time one of Federal Parliament’s chambers have passed a same-sex marriage bill.
But former prime minister Tony Abbott said it was ‘‘disappointing’’ the government did not fight more to strengthen religious protections and parental rights, while Nationals backbenchers Andrew Broad and George Christensen accused Malcolm Turnbull of lacking leadership over the issue.
Despite moderate Liberals joining Labor MPs and crossbenchers to steamroll the amendments in the Senate, opponents will regroup and hold a phone hook-up to plot strategy ahead of the House of Representatives return on Monday.
While they know they cannot stop gay marriage being legalised, and many lower house MPs have pledged not to block its passage, one Liberal said as a matter of principle they needed to keep fighting. ‘‘We’ve got to try because nearly 40 per cent of the population voted ‘No’,’’ the MP told The Australian Financial Review .
‘‘It’s disappointing they didn’t get enough support in the Senate but many Coalition members will support amendments.’’
Mr Abbott said he expected amendments similar to those moved by backbench Liberal senators David Fawcett and James Paterson would be introduced into the House of Representatives. He said it was a pity former attorney-general Philip Ruddock’s inquiry into religious freedom would not report before the same-sex marriage vote and pointed out both Mr Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had committed to protecting religious freedoms during the postal vote period.
‘‘It’s disappointing that Shorten didn’t give his own members freedom to cross the floor and it’s disappointing that the government hasn’t done more to ensure freedom of religion is protected at the same time same-sex marriage is passed,’’ he said.
Mr Broad told the ABC ‘‘there’s been a complete lack of leadership’’ by Mr Turnbull in ensuring a bill acceptable to conservatives was prepared, a view endorsed by Mr Christensen. ‘‘A true leader would have sought to capture the will of the people and protect freedoms, not this hands-off approach,’’ Mr Christensen said on Twitter.
Mr Turnbull tried to head off the criticism by saying voters ‘‘do not expect politicians to be talking about each other’’. ‘‘They expect them to be focused on the big issues ... national security, keeping Australians safe. Trade. Jobs. Employment,’’ he said.
Senator Dean Smith said the resounding victory showed what could happen when senators put aside partisan differences. ‘‘We have seen in this debate how our Parliament is meant to work,’’ he said.
Labor Senate leader Penny Wong said it was a day of celebration. ‘‘It says to so many Australians: this Parliament, this country, accept you for who you are. Your love is not lesser and nor are you. It says you are one of us,’’ she said.
