Nationals MP Darren Chester has headed off an internal party revolt over his support of same-sex marriage.
In June, Chester became the first Nationals MP to announce that he supported changing the Marriage Act to recognise same-sex unions. He told the ABC that there was momentum for change within his historically conservative Gippsland electorate.
“It’s not the biggest issue in my electorate by any stretch, but it’s a significant issue for some people,” he said. “I think the momentum is growing in the community.”
But not everyone agrees. A motion to disendorse the MP was drafted at a recent local branch meeting of the Victorian Nationals.
A senior party source told Guardian Australia that there is “a small group within the party that does not agree with Darren” on gay marriage.
“It’s standard to have robust discussions, and that happens all the time,” the source said.
While a motion was moved to disendorse Chester, that motion never made it to a vote at the local branch, she said, adding that it was all part of the regular internal processes within the party.
Two-thirds of the Nationals’ state council would need to vote against Chester, who has held the safe seat since 2008, for him to be removed from the party.
“We’re a long way from the next step in the process,” the party source said.
Chester’s office did not respond to Guardian Australia’s request for comment on this matter.
The parliamentary secretary said he had consultations with “hundreds” of constituents before declaring his support for same-sex marriage.
“I’m elected to represent all Gippslanders, whether they are members of the Nationals, Greens, Labor, Liberal or have no political affiliation,” Chester wrote on his Facebook page in June.
“I understand and respect that members of the Nationals have different views on a wide range of issues, including same-sex marriage.
“I accept and respect that some members will be disappointed by my decision and will re-assess their support for my campaign efforts. It’s my intention to contest the next federal election as the Nationals endorsed candidate for the seat of Gippsland and I’m optimistic that Gippslanders will look favourably on my performance across a range of issues,” he wrote.
Research undertaken by Guardian Australia shows that the fate of any future legislation in the upper house lies with a handful of Senators who have yet to declare how they will vote on it.
The Coalition’s policy is to oppose any change to the Marriage Act to recognise same-sex unions, while Labor’s policy is to allow a conscience vote on the issue.
