Same-sex vote pressure

Senator says ‘easier for my life ... to change my position’ to yes

ANTI same-sex marriage Labor senator Helen Polley says she has been told by ALP MPs to say she supports a change to the Marriage Act.

Senator Polley has previously told the Mercury that she is opposed to same-sex marriage and would vote “no” in any vote in the Senate in the wake of a majority “yes” vote in the postal survey.

She said, however, she would be bound by party policy and vote yes after the next election. Senator Polley would not comment yesterday.

She told The Australian that she had been told by senior party members that she could be responsible for losing the next Federal Election.

“It would be much easier for my life in dealing with my colleagues to change my position and support same-sex marriage,” she said. “There is pressure from outside, there is pressure from friends, from colleagues, from staffers.”

Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said Labor members and senators had a free vote until after the next election and that he believed the vast majority would vote yes.

Senator Polley received support from an unlikely source, Liberal senator and “no” campaigner Eric Abetz.

“Heavy-handed attempts by the Labor Party to silence Labor members including Tasmanian senator Helen Polley [who is] opposed to gay marriage is just another example of the bullying tactics of the ‘yes’ campaign,” he said.

“For Senator Polley to be treated like this by her own, needs to be widely condemned.”

Liberal senator David Bushby also weighed in, saying he was disappointed to hear reports of pressure on Senator Polley.

“While I am not surprised to hear of cases like this within the Labor Party, I am disappointed to hear reports that Senator Polley has come under such pressure,” he said.

Tasmanian Labor members and senators are expected to vote yes, if it comes to a parliamentary vote, as are two Greens senators.

Senator Jacqui Lambie is personally opposed to samesex marriage but will vote in line with the Tasmanian postal survey outcome if a vote is taken in the Senate.

Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam will reflect the Tasmanian postal survey result although he supports traditional marriage, and Senator Abetz says he will be “guided” by the outcome of the vote.

Senator Bushby said he would respect the wishes of Tasmanian voters if a vote was taken in the Senate.

“Personally, however, I have voted ‘no’ in the postal survey,” Senator Bushby said.

Senate President Stephen Parry was unable to be contacted for comment.