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Five years ago today, the results of the ‘Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey’ were announced.

As one of the board directors of the ‘no campaign’, the Coalition for Marriage, I remember 15 November 2017 only too well.

The feeling that, no matter how many votes we had shifted through our efforts, no matter how hard concerned Aussies worked to spread the word, it was inevitable that Federal parliamentarians would proceed to legally redefine marriage.

I use that phrase, “legally redefine marriage”, quite deliberately. Marriage precedes states and governments. It’s the foundation of the family, itself the very building block of society. The idea that anyone can purport to change its meaning with the stroke of a pen is, frankly, ludicrous.

So why get worked up about what happened in 2017? We did we work so hard then — and why should we care now, particularly when so few same-sex couples have even availed themselves of the new law?

It’s simple: because ideas have consequences.

Flow-On Effects

Indeed, back in 2017, I wrote the forward to a booklet entitled Consequences. It warned that mucking around with marriage was not merely a feel-good measure designed to make us all ‘equal’. Legally redefining marriage, we warned, would dramatically alter our society.

We were routinely mocked and ridiculed, but I wonder what the average Aussie would think today if they genuinely thought through the events of the last few years.

Granted, most of the changes have been indirect in their effect — with the notable exception of the supercharging of anti-discrimination laws. People have already suffered because of them, and I believe that number will only grow in time.

Most consequences have been (anti)social in nature.

Take for example the renewed assault on faith-based schools and other institutions over their stance on marriage and gender.

Not only did the whole ‘religious discrimination law’ fiasco fall dismally wide of the mark before dying with a whimper, but we now find ourselves having to defend the very purpose and basis for faith schools.

So much for “but same-sex marriage won’t affect you!”

Likewise, the alarming growth of cancel culture has borne out our fears. We said it would get much worse — and it has.

Everyone knows the Israel Folau case, but his was only one of many. Ask Andrew Thorburn, who lasted a mere ONE DAY as CEO of the Essendon Football Club. And he wasn’t even pushed out for something he’d said, but merely for his church affiliation.

Anyone who mocks you with “See, the sky hasn’t fallen in!” is gaslighting you big time.

Sobering

So, five years on, what lessons can we learn?

I’m sure a book could be written on this, but for the sake of brevity, here are some thoughts.

We must stop the constant arrival of the ‘minutes to midnight’ scenario.

Less than a decade ago, we were winning vote after vote in the Federal Parliament on preserving man-woman marriage. Then there was a massive PR effort by the Rainbow Lobby, ably helped by corporate Australia.

There was little response from those who treasured true marriage, and the seismic shift happened before the public were even asked their thoughts. In fact, they were so tired of hearing about the issue that I’m sure many voted ‘yes’ to be done with it.

So the lesson is: we have to constantly talk up and make the case for what we value. This extends well beyond the topic of marriage.

Speaking of which, do you remember hearing that ‘it’s ok to say no’?

That was our campaign slogan in 2017 (a slogan I had something to do with, actually).

I remind you of it now because, guess what? It’s STILL ok to say no!

Remember that the next time you encounter the Gender Agenda at your local library or in your (grand)children’s school — or when a company, product or club you support goes ‘woke’.

Be prepared to vote with your wallet or your feet.

Also, resolve to join a political party if you haven’t already done so. We can do so much through our own personal and collective advocacy, but we miss a major piece of the jigsaw puzzle if we abandon the political field to ‘progressives’ who will keep tearing down faster than we can build.

We may hear the media and others bleat about the fifth anniversary today, but don’t be perturbed.

Remember that there is nothing new under the sun — and we will always have treasures worth defending: family, faith and freedom.

I love this country. I love its way of life. I want to leave it in a better state for my children and yours.

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him,
but because he loves what is behind him.” — G.K. Chesterton

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Originally published by the Australian Family Coalition.
Photo: Australian Family Association