Cory Bernardi tells Malcolm Turnbull: stop advocating same-sex marriage or quit frontbench - Polidicks

[t]http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/5158874-3x2-940x627.jpg[/t] [QUOTE]Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has called on former Liberal leader and current Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull to stop publicly advocating gay marriage or quit the ministry. "If Malcolm Turnbull wants to talk about fringe issues outside party policy, he should resign from the frontbench," Senator Bernardi told the ABC. "Our longstanding party position is that marriage is between a man and a woman. "Our frontbenchers need to reflect that in any comments they make. "When you are a frontbencher there is no room for a personal view." Senator Bernardi, a protégé of former finance minister Nick Minchin, is a leading conservative figure within the party and resigned last year as Tony Abbott’s Shadow parliamentary secretary over his comments linking same sex-marriage to bestiality. He first clashed with Mr Turnbull, a leading moderate within the Coalition, in 2009 when Mr Turnbull was Liberal leader and in favour of passing Labor’s emissions trading scheme. Mr Turnbull lost the leadership to Mr Abbott on the issue. At the weekend, Mr Turnbull said the Coalition should allow a conscience vote on gay marriage, which he would "certainly" vote for. The Labor Party has asked Mr Turnbull to co-sponsor a private members bill to legalise same-sex marriage, but the offer was rebuffed because Mr Turnbull is a Cabinet Minister. Mr Turnbull says all the countries "culturally close" to Australia - the UK, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand - have already allowed gay marriage. He argues that it looks like Australia is "out of step" on the issue. Mr Turnbull's office refused to comment on Senator Bernardi's remarks.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-16/malcolm-turnbull-told-to-stop-advocating-gay-marriage/5158842[/url]

How about Cory sodomises himself with a cactus instead. [editline]16th December 2013[/editline] He looks like an arsehole version of Bill Nye, too.

Presumably as a Parliamentary system, Australia has a concept of collective responsibility?

TO BE FAIR, it makes sense hes being told off for going directly against party opinion. you dont join the demmys to start preaching far right shit, tho its fucked up to restrict gay rights, it is reasonable for a dude to be pissed some frontman for his side isnt representing the opinions of other members right to an opinion and shit like that

[QUOTE=No Party Hats;43197617]TO BE FAIR, it makes sense hes being told off for going directly against party opinion. you dont join the demmys to start preaching far right shit, tho its fucked up to restrict gay rights, it is reasonable for a dude to be pissed some frontman for his side isnt representing the opinions of other members right to an opinion and shit like that[/QUOTE] I forgot how elected politicians are supposed to serve their party first, their country fifth, and their constitutents like twenty-third.

[QUOTE=No Party Hats;43197617]TO BE FAIR, it makes sense hes being told off for going directly against party opinion. you dont join the demmys to start preaching far right shit, tho its fucked up to restrict gay rights, it is reasonable for a dude to be pissed some frontman for his side isnt representing the opinions of other members right to an opinion and shit like that[/QUOTE] I don't even think most liberals are against it either though, which is one more reason why Abbot refuses to allow a conscience vote.

It just sucks imagining what could have been if Turnbull held on to the Liberal leadership. Obviously this, but also his support alongside Labor for an ETS which is far better than the carbon tax (or not directly addressing emissions at all). A much better representative for a party that calls itself 'Liberal'. [editline]16th December 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=No Party Hats;43197617]TO BE FAIR, it makes sense hes being told off for going directly against party opinion. you dont join the demmys to start preaching far right shit, tho its fucked up to restrict gay rights, it is reasonable for a dude to be pissed some frontman for his side isnt representing the opinions of other members right to an opinion and shit like that[/QUOTE] Yes you're right. As Australia utilises the Westminister system, the cabinet exercises collective responsibility and so all cabinet ministers must publicly support all government decisions, even if they privately disagree with them.

Liberal? I thought Liberals were for same sex marriage or is Australian's political compass upside down.

[QUOTE=ROFLBURGER;43197895]Liberal? I thought Liberals were for same sex marriage or is Australian's political compass upside down.[/QUOTE] Actually, yeah, it is. Over here the 'Liberal' party is actually the conservative one. It's fucked.

[QUOTE=ROFLBURGER;43197895]Liberal? I thought Liberals were for same sex marriage or is Australian's political compass upside down.[/QUOTE] australias conservative party is called the Liberal party, like, as it's name

[QUOTE=No Party Hats;43197617]TO BE FAIR, it makes sense hes being told off for going directly against party opinion. you dont join the demmys to start preaching far right shit, tho its fucked up to restrict gay rights, it is reasonable for a dude to be pissed some frontman for his side isnt representing the opinions of other members right to an opinion and shit like that[/QUOTE] Except that the Labor party has never forced its party to vote in lockstep on consience issues, with a range of opinions being allowed in the party.

[QUOTE=No Party Hats;43197617]TO BE FAIR, it makes sense hes being told off for going directly against party opinion. you dont join the demmys to start preaching far right shit, tho its fucked up to restrict gay rights, it is reasonable for a dude to be pissed some frontman for his side isnt representing the opinions of other members[/QUOTE] Hes not a whip, he needs to shut his face. Besides, when Bernardi gave a speech bashing gay marriage in 2008, the party told him he was out of line also. Long standing party position or not, Bernardi doesn't like gay marriage.

Liberals not supporting gay rights? I'm confused

[QUOTE=Whiterfire;43200905]Liberals not supporting gay rights? I'm confused[/QUOTE] [B]liberalism does not necessarily equal left-wing ideology[/B]

I was wondering when I'd see people confuse our Liberal party for liberals. Always a joy seeing non-Australian takes on Australian politics.

[QUOTE=PSI Guy;43202178]I was wondering when I'd see people confuse our Liberal party for liberals. Always a joy seeing non-Australian takes on Australian politics.[/QUOTE] It's not like it's unique to Australia. Many right-leaning European parties have some form of 'liberal' in their name (referring to liberal economic policy) and the major one in Japan is called the 'Liberal Democratic Party'.