these people will continue to advocate for these causes and I think if we're going to redefine marriage. "We've already had complaints from those in the polyamorous community about this will discriminate against them. Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, Senator Bernardi was not backing down. Watch Cory Bernardi's comments in the Senate "I think that these things are the next step."
"Will that be a future step? In the future will we say, 'These two creatures love each other and maybe they should be able to be joined in a union'. say it is OK to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. "There are even some creepy people out there. "The next step, quite frankly, is having three people or four people that love each other being able to enter into a permanent union endorsed by society - or any other type of relationship," Senator Bernardi said. "I think it's pretty clear that if you want to freelance, you can do so on the backbench," he said.ĭuring a Senate debate last night Senator Bernardi said the push for same-sex marriage was coming from "radicals" who were determined to overturn the social fabric of Australian society.Īnd he questioned where the campaign would end, if society was prepared to redefine marriage based on the "latest criterion" that it should be allowed irrespective of gender. "I think it's pretty clear that I have sent a very strong message to every member of the team that ill-discipline is unacceptable. "I had a conversation with Senator Bernardi as a result of that conversation, he offered his resignation and I've accepted his resignation. "They're views that I think many people would find repugnant. "They're views I don't share," the Opposition Leader told reporters in Canberra. Mr Abbott has described the comments as "ill-disciplined" and has accepted Senator Bernardi's resignation. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has resigned as Tony Abbott's parliamentary secretary amid a fierce backlash over comments he made linking gay marriage to the social acceptance of having sex with animals.