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Australian former PM changes mind to support same-sex marriage

Xinhua, August 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian former Prime Minister Julia Gillard has joined a number of government and opposition MPs to throw their support behind same-sex marriage in Australia.

But Gillard's decision to support same-sex marriage has drawn a backlash on Thursday, with many reminding the former PM of her decision to vote against it in parliament during 2011.

When she was in power, Gillard told Sky News that "For our culture, for our heritage, the Marriage Act and marriage being between a man and a woman has a special status."

When asked about Gillard's change of heart on Thursday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that she will have the chance to express her view if the issue makes it to the polls.

"Look, Julia Gillard will have an opportunity to cast her vote on this matter just as every other Australian will," he told the Seven Network.

"Every voter, about 18 million of us, will have the chance to have our say on this in the next term of parliament should the Coalition get elected. I think this should be a people's decision, not a politicians' decision."

Australia's first female prime minister confirmed the back-flip late on Wednesday, declaring that she was in favor of same-sex marriage and that she would vote "yes", but said a plebiscite or referendum would only prove that politicians were "deficient" in their decision making.

Gillard said she would prefer politicians to be allowed a conscience vote.

"If, much against my views about what is best for our nation, a plebiscite or referendum is held on same-sex marriage, then as a voter, I would certainly cast my ballot in favor of same sex marriage," she told a a lecture in Melbourne late Wednesday evening.

Gillard joins current Labor leader Bill Shorten and a throng of Labor and coalition MPs as advocates for same-sex marriage in Australia, though Prime Minister Tony Abbott is against marriage equality.

Shorten has said that if Labor was to be elected at the next federal election, his government would introduce a same-sex marriage bill "within 100 days" of coming into power. Endi