Tony Abbott sides with Malcolm Turnbull over Cory Bernardi gay marriage ultimatum

Updated

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has backed Cabinet colleague Malcolm Turnbull in an internal Liberal Party dispute over same-sex marriage.

Senator Cory Bernardi yesterday called on the Communications Minister to stop advocating his personal view in support of gay marriage, or quit the Cabinet.

Senator Bernardi said it was not appropriate for a minister to reflect views that were not party policy.

But Mr Abbott has rebuffed his backbencher, saying leniency is allowed on certain issues like same-sex marriage.

"This is a rather unusual subject and I think on subjects such as this there is a certain leeway extended to people," he said.

"The Liberal Party is a broad church, always has been, always will be."

Mr Abbott said the issue had been well discussed in the community and said everyone knew his view, which was that marriage is between a man and a woman.

But he stressed his friendship with both Senator Bernardi and Mr Turnbull.

Mr Abbott is leaving open the prospect of allowing Liberals MPs a conscience vote on same-sex marriage if a new bill is put to the Parliament.

The Labor Party had asked Mr Turnbull to co-sponsor a private members bill to legalise same-sex marriage, but the offer was rebuffed because Mr Turnbull is a cabinet minister.

However, Mr Turnbull believes a bill would have a reasonable prospect of succeeding.

Mr Turnbull has criticised Australia for appearing "out of step" with culturally comparable countries like the UK, Canada and New Zealand on the issue, and called for the Liberal Party to allow a conscience vote.

Last Thursday, the High Court in Canberra ruled that only the Federal Parliament has the power to make marriage laws, declaring the ACT's same-sex marriage law invalid.

Senator Bernardi is a leading conservative figure and resigned last year as Mr Abbott's shadow parliamentary secretary over his comments linking same-sex marriage to bestiality.

He first clashed with Mr Turnbull, a leading moderate within the Coalition, in 2009 when Mr Turnbull was Liberal leader and in favour of passing Labor's emissions trading scheme.

Mr Turnbull's office refused to comment on Senator Bernardi's remarks.

Topics: marriage, community-and-society, liberals, government-and-politics, australia

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