Same-sex marriage: Abbott attacks PM over lack of religious protections

Tony Abbott ramps up his criticism of the government over the same-sex marriage postal survey.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has attacked Malcolm Turnbull over a perceived lack of religious protections should same-sex marriage be supported by the postal survey.

“How can... the Prime Minister, and other senior ministers like Scott Morrison, stand there and say with a straight face that freedom of speech, freedom of religion and parental choice will be protected under what is not government legislation but private member’s legislation,” Mr Abbott told 2GB radio on Wednesday.

The former prime minister is among a number of Liberal conservatives on the 'No' side calling for the government to detail what protections there will be if the survey returns a majority 'Yes' vote.

The government has said it would facilitate a private member’s bill – possibly from Liberal senator Dean Smith – through parliament legalising same-sex marriage if the survey approves legalising same-sex marriage.

Mr Abbott cited the case of a Canberra Christian school which has been rebuked by the ACT Labor government after asking parents to vote no in the survey to argue there were consequences to the 'Yes' vote.

“No-one knows how parental choice will be protected in the brave new world of same-sex marriage should it come about,” he said.

“If things are as bad as this before same-sex marriage has happened, just think how much worse it could be in this brave new world the politically correct left would force on us.”

Mr Abbott repeated his warnings that without protections, same-sex marriage supporters were being given a “blank cheque” on the legislation. 

“You just can’t trust these people given the way they are conducting themselves,” he said.