New Aussie Prime Minister 'Tony Abbott (Dubbed "The Mad Monk")

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

So where does this leave the local LGBTQI ? Will the land down under sink back into the dark ages ?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10293102/Tony-Abbott-to-be-new-Australian-prime-minister-after-landslide-win.html

A staunch conservative and devout Catholic with a strong commitment to social justice, he opposes same sex marriage, supports the monarchy and has expressed concerns about abortion. But, as opposition leader, he has largely restrained his more conservative impulses and has instead demonstrated a willingness to confer with colleagues and to moderate his views.


Metta Zenda

[Athena]

In Canada when Harper was leader of the opposition he was promising to put the same sex marriage question up to the second vote. It had already passed parliament and was law, he was trying to get it over turned. If I remember correctly he did bring it up to vote again but with little support to over turn the new law he has since dropped the fight against same sex marriage.
When he was fighting to become prime minister he was saying stuff about overturning the same sex marriage and bringing back the death penalty, both of which have not come to pass. Even though I dislike the man as our prime minister he was saying a lot of conservative promises he really didn't follow through on any of them.

So as for the new Australian prime minister I would wait and see, but I would think that he will be more concerned about maintaining his position then any of his personal views.

[Jenny07]

As a Aussie who voted yesterday, I must say the whole campaign by the former government was entirely anti Tony Abbott focused. They had no other cards to play.

It seem some have believed these messages before a single day has passed since the election.

Yes he has a strong conservative background. Nothing wrong with someone standing behind what they believe no matter what it is. Just look at Julia Gillard an her background.

Lets see what actual happens not what critics say.
I am not saying either way but least wait for facts before making judgements.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

Here in NZ we have a 'conservative' government (National), however the Prime Minister is non religious and openly voted for the marriage equality bill to be passed, in fact he's quite a nice guy as  far as conservatives go, and that's really saying something for a staunch tree hugging greeny like myself (perhaps it has something to do with he's state housing upbringing)...

I guess one can only wait and see what the future holds for Oz and the LGBTQI community...Let's hope Tony is all talk and no trousers ...

Metta Zenda

[sam79]

Abbott has stated many times that he believes marriage is only between a man and a woman, and that he doesn't support marriage equality.

Heck, we'll be lucky if he doesn't rollback the recent anti-discrimination laws which included gender related aspects.

[Cindy]

I think Rudd's proposal to have a vote on equality in marriage was just a ploy as it had no chance getting up through both houses anyway.

As for Abbott, I dislike him, but maybe we need a clean out anyway. Politicians need worming every two terms, just like puppies!

[kelly_aus]

I'm concerned at what might happen and what probably won't happen..

I don't like him, I don't like his published personal beliefs. I'm hoping his party and the rest of parliament  will keep him in some sort of control.

I think Rudd's proposal to have a vote on equality in marriage was just a ploy as it had no chance getting up through both houses anyway.

As for Abbott, I dislike him, but maybe we need a clean out anyway. Politicians need worming every two terms, just like puppies!

Rudd may well have gotten it through.. With proper ALP control of the lower house and the old (pre-election) Senate, which hangs around for another 6 months or so, I think he could have gotten it through..

[Joelene9]

  I read the piece and heard Mr. Abbott's win speech.  It sounds like a dopplegänger to me.  The flags are different and his voice pitch sounds like Jack Kennedy's with an aussie accent, but with diametrically different viewpoints as JFK.  As with the "Mad Monk", if memory serves me, the Russian one was hard to get rid of!  Negative campaigns sometimes fail, as probably happened here.  Also JFK's Roman Catholicism was a negative in the election of 1960.  JFK won by a very close squeaker in that one though.  Like Cindy, I agree that Australian government as well as the government here in the USA needs a good de-worming. 

  Joelene