BORDER marriage equality advocates believe Sussan Ley has an opportunity to further their cause in 2017.
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Toni Johnson says there is still hope for same-sex marriage to make its way through Parliament, despite the failed plebiscite in 2016.
“I think we’ve got a good chance, even this year, to push it through Parliament,” she said.
“They’re still fighting for a free vote.
“Sussan Ley, even though she is no longer the health minister, is still our representative in Farrer.
“If she gets on board she could be remembered throughout Australia for making change through marriage equality.
“She could have a really big impact.”
While hopeful that Ms Ley could impact the debate positively, Ms Johnson was frustrated in equal measure by reported remarks from Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce earlier this week.
Mr Joyce was reported to have ordered ministers to stop discussing re-opening the marriage equality debate, allegedly labelling it an “inner-city” issue that appealed only to Sydney’s Oxford Street.
“It is a bit frustrating (hearing comments like that), she said.
“People are staying in regional areas now, they’re not moving to the inner city any more.
“We have a big community here, especially in Albury-Wodonga, that needs support, and needs equality.
“Hume Phoenix have been around for 20 years, but it’s been in the last five years or so they’ve been really visible.
“People know our community now, people are comfortable coming out, comfortable being themselves.
“They want to stay in the region and be a part of the community.
“We need to keep the issue of marriage equality out there and spoken about so that people remember it and learn from it as well.
“We want to keep it quite obvious that we need equality ourselves.”
The federal Parliament came close to approving a plebiscite on the issue in 2016, but it was blocked by the Senate after various marriage equality groups and campaigners voiced concerns that debate around the issue would cause more harm than good.
Member for Indi Cathy McGowan has previously expressed support for equality.