Aust. Govt fails to explain anti-civil union move

Government fails to explain anti-civil union move

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today accused the Howard Government of pedalling an anti-gay message in its unprecedented quashing of the ACT civil union act.

"To pretend, as the Prime Minister does, that to quash the ACT civil union act is not about homophobia is insulting to the intelligence of
Australians," Senator Nettle said.

"Leadership should be about bringing people together but today once again John Howard's government has shown that it is more interested in promoting division.

"In the debate today the leader of the government in the Senate,
Senator Minchin, failed to offer any reasonable explanation as to why the government was so determined to stop same sex couples from getting civil unions.

"The only explanation offered is that civil unions would 'undermine' marriage but they cannot explain how this would actually happen.

"In the absence of any real explanation Australians will rightly conclude that the government is in fact sending an anti-gay message to the electorate to pander to old prejudices.

"The Greens condemn the government for playing the politics of hate, and encouraging continuing prejudice in the community."

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