Greens block marriage equality vote for second time
The Labor Party in Australia has hit out at the Green party for blocking a vote on equal marriage for a second time.
Senate leader, Penny Wong, attacked the party for blocking a vote on same-sex marriage for the second time in three days.
She accused the Greens of caring more about eliminating minor parties than eliminating discrimination.
“Don’t you ever come in here and tell us how committed you are to this issue,” she told the chamber.
The Coalition and Greens used their combined numbers to quash an attempt by Liberal Democrat Senator, David Leyonhjelm, to bring a vote of the minor party’s own private bill.
The Green Party had tabled a motion to hold a vote in the Senate to pass a bill that would allow for marriage to be redefined.
Green Senator Rob Simms hit back at Labor, accusing them of “cheap tricks”.
“Please stop using this issue in such a cheap and cynical way, it’s actually people’s lives you’re stuffing around with here,” he said.
On Tuesday, Labor Senators, in favour of the vote, hit out at Green for their actions at delaying the initial vote.
Penny Wong said: “They had an opportunity [to bring it to a vote] this morning, and they squibbed it, and they now want to make Australians believe that somehow an hour-long debate is somehow the same.”
A recent poll showed support for marriage equality had reached its highest level ever, with 64% of people now in favour of the move.
