An increasing number of outer northern suburbs residents are writing to their federal members of parliament expressing their support for legalisation of same-sex marriage.
Scullin MP Andrew Giles said his office received “quite a few” emails last week from constituents wanting to voice their backing for marriage equality.
“Most people who raise the issue with me are supportive of same-sex marriage,” he said.
Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten introduced a same-sex marriage bill last Monday referencing Gough Whitlam’s famous line, “It’s time.”
Mr Giles said he was looking forward to supporting the bill “to see all relationships recognised in the same way”.
Mr Giles became a federal MP in 2013, almost exactly a year after similar legislation was voted down.
McEwen MP Rob Mitchell said he supported marriage equality and would vote accordingly. He abstained from voting in 2012.
“I wanted to make sure that religious institutions that don’t wish to marry same-sex couples don’t have to, and I didn’t want to see same-sex couples taking them to court for discrimination,” he said.
“But both of these concerns have been addressed in Bill Shorten’s bill.”
Neither Mr Mitchell nor Mr Giles identify themselves as religious people, but they said they respected those who don’t agree with same-sex marriage because of religious beliefs.
Mr Mitchell said his office had received between 30 and 40 letters or emails from McEwen constituents and most were in favour of marriage equality.
Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou did not wish to speak about Mr Shorten’s bill but sent Star Weekly an ambiguous statement.
“It is public knowledge I voted against gay marriage. I acknowledge the momentum for change has built significantly since the last vote,” she wrote.
If Coalition MPs receive a free vote, advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality believes the vote count is one short of the 76 needed to get the bill through the lower house.
