Doug PollardNew York State of Mind
In 2004 John Howard, with Labor support, amended the Marriage Act by adding the following:
Marriage means the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
Certain unions are not marriages. A union solemnised in a foreign country between: (a) a man and another man; or (b) a woman and another woman; must not be recognised as a marriage in Australia.
This is still Labor, Liberal and National party policy. Compare it with the amendment made to New York law last week.
A marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex
No government treatment or legal status, effect, right, benefit, privilege, protection or responsibility relating to marriage shall differ based on the parties to the marriage being the same sex or a different sex
All relevant gender-specific language set forth in or referenced by New York law shall be construed in a gender-neutral manner
No application for a marriage license shall be denied on the ground that the parties are of the same or a different sex
Just replace “New York” with “Australian” and you have the perfect replacement for John Howards words.
Also last week, WA joined the growing list of state and territory Labor parties that endorse same sex marriage.
If you remember your bible classes, St Paul was on the road to Damascus when he suddenly saw the light and switched from persecuting Christians to becoming the late Jesus’s number one spin doctor.
Taken together, WA and NY could have provided a ‘Road to Damascus’ moment for the Prime Minister.
After all, it was Julia Gillard who stood starry-eyed in the US House of Representatives and gushed, “I believed Americans could do anything. I believe that still. You can do anything today.”
“Your great dream – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – inspires us all.”
Not Julia, not this time, however. This time, she was inspired by John Howard.
Speaking of the refugees rescued from a sinking boat by the captain of the Norwegian freighter Tampa, Howard said, “We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come,” and ordered the navy to keep the ship out of Australian waters.
“We’ll make our own decisions in this country based on what’s right for Australia,” said Gillard, quarantining us from New York style marriage equality and fairness.
Needless to say, Tony Abbott said nothing, though it’s a fair bet that if he had, he would most likely have taken his inspiration from New York.
The Catholic Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, to be precise, who said, "The passage by the Legislature of a bill to alter radically and forever humanity's historic understanding of marriage leaves us deeply disappointed and troubled."
Unfortunately, Julia’s statement leaves her out on a limb, out of step not just with most voters, but with her own party.
It’s looking increasingly likely that equal marriage will become official Labor policy at the upcoming national conference.
Julia had better not miss the next opportunity for a Damascene conversion** to a New York state of mind.
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**A Damascene conversion: a sudden and complete change in one's beliefs.” Wikipedia
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