Let them sell cake
HOBART businesses involved in wedding services are happy to cater for same-sex weddings and have rejected conservative politicians’ attempts to water down anti-discrimination laws.
Conservative senators, including Tasmanian Eric Abetz, are seeking numerous amendments to same-sex marriage legislation including exemptions that would allow businesses such as cake shops and florists to say no to providing services to same-sex weddings.
Owners of Hobart cake shop Sweet Envy Alistair Wise and Teena Kearney-Wise said they did not want to be dragged into the political debate.
“We don’t want to be held up as an excuse to discriminate against same-sex couples. Stop giving bakers a bad name,” Ms Wise said.
Mr Wise said he had never heard of anyone who didn’t want to bake a cake for someone.
“We’ve made plenty of cakes in the past for gay com- mitment ceremonies and if you voted ‘no’, we’ll bake a cake for you too. Cake transcends such differences,” he said.
Anti-discrimination legis- lation makes it illegal for businesses to refuse services on the grounds of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Expose Photography owner Cassandra Smith and Bride Tasmania editor Steve Mihalenko said such exemptions were unnecessary.
“It’s a bit insulting really. We are professionals and we are capable of dealing with a diverse range of customers in a professional manner. That’s how you run a good business,” said Ms Smith.
Mr Mihalenko said Tasmania’s high vote in the postal survey was a message to samesex couples around the country that they were welcome.
“This is an enormous economic opportunity for Tasmania. We have shown that we are one of the most open and inclusive states in the country,” he said.
Tasmania returned a 63.6 per cent ‘yes’ vote in the survey.
Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett says the reality of life is that businesses will get on and do business.