TANGNEY Liberal candidate Ben Morton would vote against same-sex marriage in a plebiscite.
The conservative Liberal revealed his position at a candidate’s forum organised by the Australian Christian Lobby on Monday, and said he also wants protection for churches that refuse to marry gay people.
“I would vote to keep the traditional definition of marriage,” he told about 30 people at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church.
“Families who send their children to christian schools do so for a reason and we should look at ways of protecting their right to uphold the traditional view of marriage,” he added.
The forum was slightly farcical, with Mr Morton the only candidate in the small room fringed with drums and guitars.
The ACL claims other candidates declined to attend, but Labor’s Marion Boswell says she wasn’t invited, while independent Dennis Jensen and the Greens Thor Kerr say they double-booked because ACL changed the date of the event.
• Ben Morton at the Tangney candidates forum. Photo by Stephen Pollock
“I’m disappointed that there might not be a real candidate’s debate before the election,” says Dr Kerr.
“We need a large civil body to hold a debate, like they have in Fremantle at Notre Dame.”
“I approached Murdoch University a couple of times, but they didn’t seem interested — it’s a blow for democracy.”
Mr Morton ploughed on regardless, fielding questions for over an hour on a diverse range of topics, including Safe Schools, superannuation, islamic terrorism, company tax and offshore processing of refugees.
“I’m happy to call myself a compassionate conservative,” he says.
“Thousands have died on the open seas and if if elected, I’m proud to be part of a government that has stopped the boats.
“On the terrorism question, we have to find out what makes young people give up hope and move towards radical elements in Australia.”
Mr Morton, a former WA Liberal party state director, handled most of the questions well, but conceded defeat when someone asked him how much halal certification was costing the consumer.
“Umm, I’ll need to take that one on notice,” he said.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
