FED:PM calls for respect in marriage debate =6

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2011
FED:PM calls for respect in marriage debate =6

Union official Joe de Bruyn called on delegates to support the motion for a conscience vote.

Mr de Bruyn, the national secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees
Association, said he opposed changes to the party's platform.

"This issue is the one we should decide with our heads, not on the basis of emotion," he said.

"Let's look at some principles, the definition of marriage as set out in the legislation
is that it is the union of one man and one woman, voluntarily entered into for life.

"It has always been that way since the dawn of humanity."

Mr de Bruyn said there was no real argument to change the meaning of the word marriage.

"There have been appeals to equality, but that does not address the real issue, the
real issue that you need to argue convincingly for changing the meaning of marriage, that
has not been done," he said.

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