By increasing their numbers within the government, the Nationals were the surprise success story of the election, with a very locally focused campaign.
As we take necessary steps towards shedding discrimination in relation to marriage in Australia, we must also consider removing it from our legislation.
Is it a problem that, according to Malcolm Turnbull, cabinet members would get a free vote on legislation enacting same-sex marriage after a successful plebiscite? If it is – and the logic suggests otherwise…
The same-sex marriage debate, mostly at the margins of this campaign, has erupted between the parties and within the Liberals in a foretaste of the free-for-all a plebiscite would bring. Malcolm Turnbull…
Not only is the Australian Christian Lobby losing relevance, it has had to appeal to Bill Shorten to pay attention to the group in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
Tony Abbott has been low key so far this election, spending much of his time campaigning in his own electorate, with some visits to MPs who invite him.
There is no convincing evidence that same-sex relationships are less stable than heterosexual relationships, nor that they have a negative impact on the children raised within them.
Western leaders and activists should show humility and allow themselves to be guided by local organisations if they wish to be effective in promoting same-sex rights.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has flagged the prospect of ministers campaigning on both sides in the same-sex marriage plebiscite – as happened in the republic referendum.
The government’s fast timetable for a same-sex marriage plebiscite seems to strengthen the prospect of an election being held sooner rather than later.
Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity