Conservative does not mean the same thing as regressive. You wouldn't know it from the decision by Prime Minister John Howard late last week to oppose any reforms to remove discrimination against same-sex couples.
Howard's decision follows a federal cabinet split on the issue. Lacking a uniform view, the cabinet decided to leave the final decision in Howard's hands. And at a party room meeting last week he announced he was not going to support reform because it was "complicated".
Howard has clearly taken the lead from the small number of Liberal ministers who argued in cabinet that the recognition of gay relationships didn't fit in with the agenda of an avowedly conservative Government.
The proposed reforms would have allowed same-sex couples to have the same government benefits as heterosexual couples in areas such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Medicare Safety Net and reforms in migration law.
A conservative approach to social policy is non-interventionist.
Conservative philosophy holds that it is society, not the latest fashions of the political class, that should shape social norms.
In 2007, it would be impossible for Howard to argue that same-sex couples are not a part of contemporary Australian society. If the Government chose to recognise their existence, it would be the fulfilment of a traditional conservative approach to social policy.
The reality is that the Liberal Party platforms of each state division provide support for the cause of reform.
As it is a federated organisation, the philosophical platform varies from one state and territory division to another. Party platforms provide an insight into the guiding principles of the division and what it would do in government.
None of them argues for perpetuating known discrimination. In fact, the reverse is true. In every state, the Liberal Party makes a commitment to the principle of equality.
The ACT's division platform is strongest. It states its support for "respecting the value, dignity and contribution of all members of the community regardless of sexual preference". It goes on to argue "all people should enjoy the same rights and opportunities and exercise the same responsibilities in a community that values and respects diversity".
The Victorian division states in its platform that Liberals have "shared values of liberty, fairness, equality for all and favouritism to none". Other states and territory divisions offer comparable statements.
The platform providing the most comfort to opponents of gay civil rights is that of the Northern Territory. It supports a "progressive party committed to social, economic and political progress within a framework of traditional conservative values". However, the NT platform provides Howard with little to work with.
The federal platform commits the party to continuing Robert Menzies' vision for adapting to a changing society. "Liberalism," it argues, "is not a fixed ideology but a broad-based political philosophy that relates a core set of enduring values to the changing realities and challenges that societies confront over time".
Perhaps the most telling argument in favour of reform is how each division of the Liberal Party treats same-sex couples. Every division except Queensland offers a joint, couple or family membership. If you apply online, none of the membership forms stipulates requirements for the gender mix of a joint membership. In fact, the default setting on the Tasmanian and ACT division websites is for two people, both with the title "Mr".
Of course, each Liberal Party platform also supports the role of the family. But none chooses to define what constitutes a family, rightly leaving that question open to the diverse interpretations appropriate for the contemporary mix of modern Australian society.
The party has always had divisions between its conservative and liberal wings. In the cabinet debate, ministers Malcolm Turnbull, Brendan Nelson, Joe Hockey and Philip Ruddock argued for the reforms. It is believed Howard also argued in favour of reform.
In a tight election, Howard has clearly been spooked by the Australian Christian Lobby, which is campaigning against reform. Given his low polling, Howard needs all the friends he can get. But to win an election campaign a party always needs to hold its base, and the base is rarely impressed by short-term policy shifts.
Howard's conservatism should lead him to support reform recognising the dignity of same-sex couples. His critics have always wrongly equated his conservatism with regressivism.
The Prime Minister has, unfortunately, missed his chance to prove his critics wrong.
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