Illawarra residents have wasted no time having a say in the national postal poll on same-sex marriage.
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Survey forms began landing in mailboxes last week and many – including those addressed to some of the region’s politicians – have already been marked, sealed and placed in post boxes.
Labor MPs Sharon Bird (Cunningham), Ryan Park (Keira) and Paul Scully (Wollongong) were in Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall on Monday morning to spruik the ‘yes’ campaign and cast their vote accordingly.
As they did, the Mercury saw plenty of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ reply-paid envelopes being dropped in the red post box.
All three Labor MPs shared similar reasons for voting in favour of changing the law so same-sex couples can marry – equality and human rights.
“There are gay and lesbian people in our community everyday, who work with us, who study with us, who contribute to this community and they deserve their rights recognised in the legal definition of marriage,” Ms Bird told the Mercury.
Mr Park had his two young sons and their futures in mind when casting his vote.
“I want them as they get older to have the same opportunity, if they find themselves in a same-sex relationship, that I have had,” he said.
Mr Scully said: “People should have the freedom and the law should allow people to marry the person they love. I’ve been allowed to do it and everyone else should be allowed to do it, too.”
The Labor MPs’ push for change came after Wollongong-based Liberal Senator for NSW Concetta Fierravanti-Wells helped launch a ‘no’ campaign on Saturday.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells told the Coalition for Marriage campaign launch she was “so proud to stand with you and with millions of my fellow Australians who will be voting ‘no’.”
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman; two different genders coming together in one unique union,” she said.
“This is what it has been for every culture, every ethnicity, every faith, in every corner of the world for thousands and thousands of years.”
The Mercury contacted all of the Illawarra’s state and federal MPs, with most stating they would vote ‘yes’.
Whitlam MP Stephen Jones and Shellharbour MP Anna Watson, both Labor, also wanted change, as did Liberal Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
Liberals Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore) and Lee Evans (Heathcote) did not respond.
POLLIES’ FULL RESPONSES
FEDERAL POLITICIANS
Sharon Bird, Federal Member for Cunningham (Labor) - YES
“It’s very simple for me - it’s a human rights issue. There are gay and lesbian people in our community everyday, who work with us, who study with us, who contribute to this community and they deserve their rights recognised in the legal definition of marriage.
“I know it’s a tough time for them, because I’ve talked to a lot of them lately. To get up every day to see your relationship and your family being debated in your community is a tough time and so I want to be really clear with people that I’m ‘yes’, I’ve been a ‘yes’ supporter for many elections now and I’ll continue to do that.”
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Wollongong-based Senator for NSW (Liberal) - NO
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman; two different genders coming together in one unique union,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells told the Coalition for Marriage launch on Saturday.
“This is what it has been for every culture, every ethnicity, every faith, in every corner of the world for thousands and thousands of years.
“I am so proud to stand with you and millions of my fellow Australians who will be voting ‘no’.”
Stephen Jones, Federal Member for Whitlam (Labor) - YES
“When I first entered Parliament, I thought about this and I thought ‘it’s time for the law to change’.
“It’s about equality, it’s pretty simple for me. I’ve listened to all the arguments against and they don’t seem to hold water for me.”
Ann Sudmalis, Federal Member for Gilmore (Liberal) – DID NOT RESPOND
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STATE POLITICIANS
Lee Evans, Member for Heathcote (Liberal) – DID NOT RESPOND
Ryan Park, Member for Keira (Labor) - YES
“I’ve got two young sons and I want them as they get older to have the same opportunity, if they find themselves in a same-sex relationship, that I have had.
“I want to be able to look them in the eye, should they find themselves in a same-sex relationship, that they have the same opportunity to get married as anyone else.
“It’s making sure that we don’t have situation where just because of people’s sexual preference they don’t find the benefits and enjoyment that marriage brings a lot of people.”
Paul Scully, Member for Wollongong (Labor) - YES
“I’m voting ‘yes’ because it’s time that we gave everyone equal rights.
“People should have the freedom and the law should allow people to marry the person they love. I’ve been allowed to do it and everyone else should be allowed to do it, too.”
Gareth Ward, Member for Kiama (Liberal) - YES
“I absolutely respect the institution of marriage but I think these are matters for individuals, it’s not a matter for government.
“I also think that we can have the safeguards we need in place to protect religious organisations and institutions, whilst ensuring that we can see stable relationships through people being able to be part of this institution, should they wish to be.
“I’m a Liberal because I believe in small government, not government so small it fits into people’s bedrooms.”
Anna Watson, Member for Shellharbour (Labor) - YES
“Getting married isn’t compulsory, for a start. I believe that love is love and every individual has the right to marry the person that they love, regardless of the sex of that person.
“I find it almost obscene that in 2017 we’re even having this discussion.”