No conscience - Gibbons against gay marriage vote

BENDIGO MP Steve Gibbons is keeping silent about his personal views on gay marriage, despite speaking out against Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to take the issue to a conscience vote.Mr Gibbons refused to say which way he would vote on the issue, but did say he was a strong supporter of fellow Federal MP Penny Wong, whom he considered a friend, as well as a colleague.On Saturday Ms Wong, whose same-sex partner is expecting their first child next month, rejected Ms Gillard’s call for a conscience vote and called for the party’s national platform to be changed to reflect its core value of equality.“I have a huge regard for Penny Wong both as a minister and as a person, and I know Penny feels very strongly on this issue,” Mr Gibbons said.“I would like to say that I am very proud that my party has removed 99.9 per cent of discrimination for same-sex couples.”But Mr Gibbons said he was hesitant to say which side of the same-sex marriage debate he was leaning towards because of the amount of negative attention it might send his way.“I think I have already got over 9000 emails on the issue, mostly not from people within the electorate,” he said. Mr Gibbons said he didn’t support conscience votes on principle.He said there was enough vigorous debate in Labor caucus meetings and that was where binding decisions should be made.“But if there is a conscience vote I will participate,” he said.“I haven’t made my final decision on which way I will vote, I will wait for conference debate.“I’m not a delegate at the national conference but I will be waiting for that decision.”Mr Gibbons said whichever way he voted on the issue it would be a personal choice, because he believes his constituents’ views are split “fairly evenly” on same sex marriage.“People within the Bendigo electorate have very strong views and have let me know,” he said.“Whatever way I vote I will only be representing half of my electorate.“It’s a controversial issue, there’s no doubt about that.”