Pyne’s push on gay reform
A TURNBULL Government minister has been caught on tape revealing plans to introduce same-sex marriage “sooner than everyone thinks” while also boasting how the Liberal Party is now run by its left faction.
The leaked recording captures Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, a softLiberal powerbroker, making the explosive remarks at an after-party following the Federal Liberal Council galadinner on Friday evening.
“Friends we are in the winner’s circle but we have to deliver a couple of things and one of those we’ve got to deliver before too long is marriage equality in this country,” Mr Pyne says in the tape, obtained by columnist Andrew Bolt.
“We’re going to get it. I think it might even be sooner than everyone thinks. And your friends in Canberra are working on that outcome.”
Mr Pyne then celebrated the success of the left division of the Liberal Party.
“Two years ago ... Malcolm Turnbull was the communications minister and now he’s the Prime Minister,” Mr Pyne said.
“So I would say that our fortunes are pretty good at the moment. And most of your senior cabinet ministers, George Brandis, Marise Payne, yours truly – quite a few of us are very senior ministers in a Turnbull Government.
“Now there was a time when people said it wouldn’t happen, but George and I kept the faith. We voted for Malcolm Turnbull in every ballot he’s ever been in.”
The comments are inflammatory given Mr Turnbull has been working tirelessly to appease conservative MPs and voters since he claimed the leadership from Tony Abbott.
The Prime Minister has made a point of taking policy counsel from senior conservative figures. The revelations are set to cause further unrest in the party, already unsettled over plans for a Clean Energy Target and a high-spending, high-taxing budget considered to be Labor-Lite.
Mr Pyne was recorded making the remarks at a soiree titled the Black Hand Reception, at The Star’s Cherry Bar.
Asked about the speech at Cherry Bar, Mr Pyne’s spokesman denied there were imminent plans to legalise gay marriage.