david f, when I vote for a member of a party, which is how most of us vote, I have no idea of that candidates conscience, or personal feelings or opinions are on most subjects. I believe most voters are in a similar position.

That being the case I expect them to vote the party policy & in fact any inferred party policy. If they do not wish to do this, they should stand as independents.

They don't because most are elected as members of a party, not individuals, & would attract little following in their own right. If they wear the shirt to get elected, they must were that shirt in all things in parliament.

'* 64% of Australians support samesex marriage
* A majority of Christians (53%) support samesex marriage
* 76% of Calition voters want Mr Abbott to allow a conscience vote
* 75% believe the reform is inevitable and -
* 81% of young people (18 - 24 years) support samesex marriage '

what about the 2% muslims Foxy? They seem to have a lot of say for such a small group.

Dear Hasbeen,

If one does not vote for the individual but the party why have representatives at all? Just record the number of electorates won by various parties when there are parliamentary votes and don't waste money on paying pols who are supping at the trough. We don't need suits sitting there whose vote is predetermined.

Dear runner,

The Galaxy Research Polling did not mention
Muslims as a separate group. However, for your
information, according to Heath Aston (political
reporter), Sydney Morning Herald,
the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
(main Islamic organisation in Australia)
has joined Christian groups in calling
for a Referendum on samesex marriage."

I hope this helps.

The results should be quite interesting.

Some of the religious fundies are appalled at the idea of having male gay sex normalised. Fair call, where will the illicit fun be in it for religious extremists wanting to feel dirty if it's all normal.

Seriously though my preference is for the government to get out of the registration of relationships all together rather than expanding the net. Especially where the registration of the relationship does not appear to have any real legal meaning beyond that which people can fall into just by sharing the same home enough times.

R0bert

Hasbeen said <<I can only assume most homosexuals are public servants>> no, no, they are all hairdressers and ballet dancers, except for the two girls (partners) I met the other week, they were members of the Australian Armed Forces. The girls were a bit surprised I didn't know that there are quite a few gay women in the army.

Hasbeen I find myself agreeing with you 100%, with this <<That being the case I expect them to vote the party policy & in fact any inferred party policy. If they do not wish to do this, they should stand as independents.>> or resign altogether.

For the Labor Party this is no longer a moral issue, since the party has formulated a policy. So much for the Judeo-Christian moralizing by some, that should now have no bearing on how parliamentary members vote. Any Labor member who feels that strongly to the point that they cannot in all good conscience vote for gay marriage they should simply resign from the party. There have been many instances in the past where members have resigned from political parties because they felt strongly on a particular issue.
If I was a member of Parliament I believe I could support party policy on almost all issues, but as a pacifists if party policy was to commit Australians to war I would inform the leader that I could not vote in support of such policy and would tender my resignation, as simple as that.

Personally I support gay marriage, having gay married friends (We actually attended their legal wedding in Auckland New Zealand in 2014) and nothing about them or their relationship has changed our minds on the subject. Both myself and my partner have gay family members and friends with partners, and we are just as accepting of them as we are of others and their relationships.