Marriage equality shouldn't be a party political issue, Labor leader Bill Shorten says, again urging the Liberals to agree to a free vote on same-sex marriage.
Mr Shorten said the US Supreme Court's historic decision to rule marriage equality a nationwide right would have implications similar to those that followed last month's referendum in Ireland.
He said the referendum prompted him to introduce his marriage equality bill.
"(Ireland) is a famously religious society and if they can vote for marriage equality, then why couldn't we in Australia?" he said.
"But America is another society which is very influential on Australia, from its media, its culture, to its system of government in many ways, so now America too has moved on the path of marriage equality."
The US decision means all states are now required to perform and recognise same-sex marriages.
Mr Shorten called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to grant a free vote to Liberal MPs on marriage equality and for a Liberal MP to move his marriage equality bill - which proposes replacing the words "man and women" with "two people" in defining who can be legally married.
"For us it's not about who moves it and who seconds it. For me it's about the outcome," he said.
"But what I say is in return for a Liberal moving the legislation, please agree to have a free vote."
Share
