Arbib wants ALP to support gay marriage

09:49 AEDT Sat Nov 6 2010

| FLOCKS: 0

0 comments so far

Labor's Mark Arbib is the first frontbencher to declare his party should support gay marriage.

Also on

Corby 'deal'People smuggler swap denied

'No choice'Grandma 'shoots grandson dead'

Bomb panic'Device' put inside passenger

'Too hot'Woman 'fired for good looks'

Grease bombEggs and bacon in roll heaven

Chelsy girlHarry says she's 'the one'

More national news:

Sydney man burnt after domestic tiff

May 24, 2012

High Court challenge to ASIO assessments

May 24, 2012

Privileges committee tight-lipped

May 23, 2012

Parents left in dark over orphanage deal

May 23, 2012

Poor mobile coverage gets bad reception

May 23, 2012

Future fund boss operates out of bank

May 23, 2012

Young indigenous leaders in parly debates

May 23, 2012

Canberra woman extradited over murder

May 23, 2012

Fed court to hear all HSU applications

May 23, 2012

Indigenous leaders want booze bans removed

May 23, 2012

Right-wing Labor minister Mark Arbib is the first frontbencher to say he believes his party should support gay marriage.

Senator Arbib says gay people should have the legal right to get married and MPs should be given a conscience vote on the controversial matter.

"If I was the parent of a gay son or daughter I don't know how I could tell them they didn't have the same rights as I do," Mr Arbib told The Weekend Australian.

"I understand the Labor Party platform does not reflect that view at the moment but I hope one day that view changes."

Senator Arbib has major influence in the right faction of the party, which is opposed to gay marriage.

The paper says Senator Arbib's decision to break ranks will cause debate within the party and is aimed at pushing the party to take a progressive lead and bolster its credentials in inner-city seats where it has been losing voters to the Greens.

Left powerbrokers have told the paper they want the party to support gay marriage.

Take Control Of The Dark With Cyber-shot from Sony http://www.sony.com.au/cybershot

Most popular

Vic sex worker passed on disease: policePolice fear for the health of clients of a Melbourne male sex worker who allegedly knowingly passed on a serious disease.

Host calls woman 'dreadful' to her faceUS talk show host Anderson Cooper told self-described "Human Barbie" Sarah Burge she was "dreadful" to her face in front of a studio audience as he cut short an interview.

'Bomb' written on drink can aborts flightA Mauritius-bound plane returned to Melbourne after a soft drink can was found on board with the word 'bomb" written on it.

Michael Clarke and bride tweet Indian outfit picAustralian cricket captain Michael Clarke and his new bride Kyly Boldy have tweeted a picture of themselves in traditional Indian wedding attire.

Grandmother 'shoots grandson eight times'A 74-year-old grandmother has been charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting her grandson eight times in the chest as he called 911.

Woman says she was fired for being 'too hot'A US woman is suing the lingerie company she used to work at, claiming they fired her for being "too hot".

UK mum, 31, sent home hours before deathPathologists are yet to determine what killed an English dance teacher who collapsed and died hours after being sent home from hospital.

WA warden 'wrestled boys in underpants'The warden of another WA state-run student boarding house has been revealed as a child sex abuser.

Vic siege man charged over armed robberyA man has faced court charged with making threats to kill, after a 44-hour siege in Melbourne that ended in the wee hours of the morning.

Poor mobile coverage gets bad receptionPoor mobile coverage across the nation is the biggest telecommunications concern for regional Australians, an independent review says.