Malcolm divorced from gay marriage heartland
Image: At a cross roads. Prime Minister Turnbull has not said whether he will be attending the Mardi Gras this year. Tanya Plibersek’s electorate after redistribution will include Potts Point and Darlinghurst. Photo: Hasitha Tudugalle
BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has not said whether he will attend this year’s Mardi Gras parade, despite right wing members of his party urging him not to go because it would be “dangerous.”
A Mardi Gras spokesperson told City Hub that Mr Turnbull has attended the parade in the past, including last year with wife Lucy Turnbull.
While Mr Turnbull has continually said he supports marriage equality, since becoming Prime Minister, he has advocated for a plebiscite to decide the issue.
Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek, whose electorate borders on Wentworth, told City Hub that Mr Turnbull had back flipped on his position on marriage equality.
“Malcolm Turnbull used to talk big on marriage equality, but now, as Prime Minister, he supports Tony Abbott’s ridiculous idea of a plebiscite – a divisive, expensive, delaying tactic thought up by the right-wing of the Liberal Party.”
Last week’s electoral redistribution has meant that Ms Plibersek’s electorate of Sydney will move east, taking in gay and lesbian hotspots of Darlinghurst and Potts Point.
A Fairfax analysis of 2011 census data found that Potts Point has the highest proportion of same sex couples at 20.9 per cent.
Elizabeth Bay, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills were all found to have same sex couples totaling between ten and 22 per cent of the suburbs’ populations. These suburbs will no longer be part of Mr Turnbull’s Wentworth electorate. The Austalian Electoral Commision’s redistribution will make its final determination on Febuary 25 this year.
Ms Plibersek said she would be marching in the Mardi Gras parade.
“I’m excited to be marching in the Mardi Gras parade again in 2016, as I have done for many years.”
“Whether or not Malcolm Turnbull attends Mardi Gras is not the issue, the issue is that he sold out on marriage equality to become Prime Minister.”
“In contrast, Labor will deliver marriage equality within 100 days of being elected to government,” Ms Plibersek told City Hub.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said it would be “appropriate” for Mr Turnbull to attend as a local member and “as a Prime Minister who said he believes in innovation and creativity.”
“Mr Turnbull remains a supporter of marriage equality, but I would like to see him speak up more on the issue.”
“If there is to be a plebiscite his voice will be critical to ensuring marriage equality gets across the line.”
The Prime Minister’s office did not respond to City Hub’s enquiries in time for print.
