http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/national/government-to-give-priority-to-small-business-legislation-over-same-sex-marriage/story-fnjbnxug-1227371475078
TONY Abbott tomorrow will show what he thinks of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's same-sex marriage bid by starting debate on a stack of legislation aimed at helping small business.
That will be the government's priority from now until at least the start of Parliament's long winter break on June 26, and the Prime Minister has the House of Representatives numbers to enforce it.
Marriage equality activists believe the pressure on the Prime Minister, who opposes a change in the Marriage Act, won't come from the Labor legislation but from a growing perception among voters Mr Abbott is stubbornly refusing to acknowledge a change in community attitudes.
The Prime Minister has warned Mr Shorten not to play party politics with the issue.
"If our Parliament were to make a big decision on a matter such as this, it ought to be owned by the Parliament and not by any particular party," he told Parliament.
"So I would ask the Leader of the Opposition and all members of Parliament to consider this as we ponder these subjects in the weeks and months to come."
Mr Shorten and his deputy Tanya Plibersek will on Monday introduce legislation to amend the Marriage Act to allow same sex unions.
It will be a private member's bill and won't go far unless the government agrees to change its own legislative program, which the Prime Minister indicated today wasn't going to happen soon.
Mr Abbott said debate on Shorten's Bill would occur "at some point", and that the Liberals would not consider a free vote — considered vital for the law change — until then.
The Labor leader today was confident his Bill would be "debated over the coming days and weeks", but there are other matters the government wants considered.
"But I do have to say that my absolute priority, the government's absolute priority right now and for the next few weeks, will be helping small business," Mr Abbott told reporters.
"It will be getting our small business budget boost through the Parliament and I hope that the Labor Party is not distracted from the need to get these measures to strengthen our economy by helping small business through the Parliament as quickly as possible."
The Shorten/Plibersek legislation will be the third of its kind which Parliament could debate. The Greens and crossbencher David Leyonhjelm have rival bids in the Senate. The Greens are expected to call a meeting of all parties to co-ordinate efforts.
TONY Abbott tomorrow will show what he thinks of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's same-sex marriage bid by starting debate on a stack of legislation aimed at helping small business.
That will be the government's priority from now until at least the start of Parliament's long winter break on June 26, and the Prime Minister has the House of Representatives numbers to enforce it.
Marriage equality activists believe the pressure on the Prime Minister, who opposes a change in the Marriage Act, won't come from the Labor legislation but from a growing perception among voters Mr Abbott is stubbornly refusing to acknowledge a change in community attitudes.
The Prime Minister has warned Mr Shorten not to play party politics with the issue.
"If our Parliament were to make a big decision on a matter such as this, it ought to be owned by the Parliament and not by any particular party," he told Parliament.
"So I would ask the Leader of the Opposition and all members of Parliament to consider this as we ponder these subjects in the weeks and months to come."
Mr Shorten and his deputy Tanya Plibersek will on Monday introduce legislation to amend the Marriage Act to allow same sex unions.
It will be a private member's bill and won't go far unless the government agrees to change its own legislative program, which the Prime Minister indicated today wasn't going to happen soon.
Mr Abbott said debate on Shorten's Bill would occur "at some point", and that the Liberals would not consider a free vote — considered vital for the law change — until then.
The Labor leader today was confident his Bill would be "debated over the coming days and weeks", but there are other matters the government wants considered.
"But I do have to say that my absolute priority, the government's absolute priority right now and for the next few weeks, will be helping small business," Mr Abbott told reporters.
"It will be getting our small business budget boost through the Parliament and I hope that the Labor Party is not distracted from the need to get these measures to strengthen our economy by helping small business through the Parliament as quickly as possible."
The Shorten/Plibersek legislation will be the third of its kind which Parliament could debate. The Greens and crossbencher David Leyonhjelm have rival bids in the Senate. The Greens are expected to call a meeting of all parties to co-ordinate efforts.