Former prime minister Tony Abbot says the country has him to thank for the history-making gay marriage postal survey and impending legalisation of gay marriage.
In a bizarre backpedal, the Warringah MP seems to have jumped the fence overnight and joined Yes voters in their celebration of the progressive result.
Formerly known for his firm anti marriage equality stance over fears it would ‘trash the country’s history’, Mr Abbott appeared to have changed his tune on Wednesday.
Former prime minister Tony Abbot (pictured) has flipped his stance on gay marriage, pledging to support the history-making legislation in parliament
He boldly announced several times in a radio interview that the postal plebiscite was ‘his idea’ – oddly claiming to have initiated the law-altering movement.
‘I put this process in place. I have, in a sense, facilitated the change,’ he declared to 2GB listeners.
Wednesday’s results revealed Mr Abbot was among the most prominent Liberal and National politicians who campaigned for No but found the majority of their constituents had voted Yes.
Nearly three quarters of his electorate voted in favour of legalising what Mr Abbot has previously deemed ‘a war on our way of life’.
We do! Celebrations have broken out across Australia (here in the Melbourne CBD) after the YES vote won 61.6% of the vote – but not everyone was on their side…
SYDNEY: These are the seats, highlighted in red that voted majority NO in the country’s biggest city. Meantime the seats in green all voted majority YES
Warringah also rounded out top four for the highest amount of Yes votes in New South Wales.
He conceded the result was a ‘big win’ and made for a ‘big day’ for Yes voters, while pledging to throw his support behind the legislation in parliament.
‘I certainly intend to facilitate the passage of a bill,’ he said.
Mr Abbott was satisfied that everyone had an opportunity to ‘have their say’, and was hopeful the outcome of the result would be respected by No voters.
His sister, Christine Forster, was among thousands who celebrated the Yes result on Wednesday, with her planning to marry partner Virginia Edwards in 2018.
Mr Abbott’s sister Christine Forster (pictured), was among thousands who celebrated the Yes result on Wednesday
Close to eight million people – representing 61.6 per cent of the population – voted ‘Yes’, bringing this Sydney woman in a rainbow wig to tears