Street rips into party over stance

STATE Liberal MP Nic Street has launched a blistering attack on those backing the “no” case in the same-sex marriage postal survey.

In State Parliament yesterday, the member for Franklin drew applause from his political opponents as he explained why he would be voting “yes” and why those — including members of his own party — who were voting “no” were on “the wrong side of history”.

“The hypocrisy of many proponents of the “no” vote is ... alarming,” he said.

“They talk about the fact that people in same-sex relationships have the same rights as people in heterosexual relationships although this is clearly not the case.

“The fact of the matter is that many of the people pushing the ‘ no’ case today are the same people who 20 years ago were arguing against the decriminalisation of sexuality in Tasmania.

“They have realised that they were on the wrong side of history once, and I hope they realise this in 20 years when the argument for marriage equality has been won.”

Mr Street later posted footage of the speech on his Facebook page, saying “sometimes you just need to get something off your chest”.

He said the plebiscite was not about freedom of speech, or freedom of religion, or political correctness and to claim otherwise was dishonest and accused opponents of holding an “outdated and discredited notion of a gold standard for the family”.

“Some of the lies and misleading statements that have been told have been breathtaking in their ignorance and the deliberate harm that they have caused,” he said.

“Nor will it be compulsory to teach gay sex behaviour or technique at schools as some homo- have suggested, children will not be more sexualised as a result of same-sex marriage and any suggestion to the contrary is rightly and deeply offensive to the LGBTI community.”

Mr Street’s speech followed comments from Braddon Liberal MP Joan Rylah.

“The only way we can protect children and ensure they have the right to know their genetic father and mother is to keep the institution of marriage as it is today,” she said.

“I believe that if you are concerned about children and their right to know their genetic parents, vote no. If you are concerned about what will have to be taught in sex educations in schools, vote no. “

The Labor Opposition tried to put pressure on the Government, demanding more be spent to support people distressed by the debate.

But Premier Will Hodgman accused Labor of gagging its members who supported the “no” case.