(Australia) Kevin Rudd pledges same-sex marriage bill in first 100 days if re-elected

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Kevin Rudd pledges same-sex marriage bill in first 100 days if re-elected

Lenore Taylor, political editor
theguardian.com, Sunday 11 August 2013 12.53 BST

Kevin Rudd has used the first election debate to promise legislation on same-sex marriage within 100 days of re-election and Labor was ready with a social media campaign harking back to Labor's famous 1972 "It's time" election slogan ready to back up the pledge.

Rudd said he supported legalising same-sex marriage "as a mark of decency to same-sex couples across the country who wish the same loving, caring relationship that, for example, I have had with Therese my wife now for the last 32 years, and for that to be formalised".

He promised Labor MPs would again have a conscience vote on the issue and he "appealed to Abbott to do the same because folk out there want this to happen".

Tony Abbott said he understood same-sex marriage was "a very important issue", acknowledging his gay sister, Christine Forster, who was in the National Press Club debate audience with her partner.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/11/kevin-rudd-pledges-same-sex-vote

[Dawson Leery]

1. Polls are 50/50 right now.

The election could go either way.

[William769]

2. I'll be the first to admit, I know nothing of Australian's political climate.

But it says re-elected. What has been wrong with the not so distant past or now?

[shenmue]

3. I like him

Good to hear someone talking sense.