Two years ago one of my first articles on this site considered the arguments for and against marriage equality. Since then, nothing has happened to change the fact that there is no reasonable argument for denying same sex individuals the right to marriage equality. In that time a large number of countries around the world have actually realised this and changed their laws accordingly- with little reported consequences other than a number of people were happier. Who would have thought? And yet it is being reported this week that this could be the issue that finally detonates the Turnbull government. I have to admit, I kind of understand the PM's recent frustration on this. Why is this the issue that the Liberal Party rips itself apart over?
I say this with complete understanding that this is 100% a significant and important issue. My surprise is that they accept so much political fratricide over an easy issue. Considering the overwhelming popular support from the public and in both houses of parliament, there would be minimal blowback if it was passed through a conscience vote. That should be easy for Coalition strategists to see. Moreover, Christopher Pyne was right (urgh, I have now agreed with Turnbull and Pyne in the same article- I feel like I need a shower). If the Coalition continues to fight the losing rear-guard action against marriage equality they gift the ALP another line of attack- and not just for the next election either. By surrendering marriage equality to Labor, they give another recent example that the Coalition is always out of touch. Compared to the simple cost-benefit analysis on marriage equality and the ease with which they can stem the bleeding on the issue, the Coalition is faced with far greater challenges that should be the focus of robust debate. They are failing horribly in many areas, including the economy, taxation, the environment. When you are taking that many hits that you can’t avoid, why keep punching yourself?
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