GAY marriage supporters Mara Schneiders and Bel St Clair made a symbolic Valentine's Day delivery to the electorate office of Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic yesterday. The two Bass constituents arrived on foot at the St John Street headquarters to deliver a bunch of red roses and a card that read, "What are you waiting for?" The gesture was part of a national campaign launched by Australian Marriage Equality. The offices of 50 federal MPs across the country were targeted by people waiting for reform to the Marriage Act. Speaking outside Mr Nikolic's electorate office yesterday morning, Ms Schneiders said she was excited to be involved in the day of action. "Today is Valentine's Day, so it's a great day to remind us about love," she said. "It's about remembering love whatever guise it is and whoever that's for." Ms Schneiders said she was taking part to show her support for a conscience vote on marriage equality in the Federal Parliament. "I think if we can have a conscience vote then people will have an opportunity to go home to their electorate and think about change more broadly," she said. "It's difficult if a conscience vote doesn't happen, but I think change is coming - it's just a matter of time." Mr Nikolic was in Canberra when the roses were delivered. "It's a shame Andrew wasn't here so that we could pass them on personally," Ms Schneiders said. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Nikolic said he was flattered to receive the flowers, but his views on marriage had not changed. "It's been many years since someone has given me roses, so I'm touched by that," he said. "As for marriage policy issues, I think the Coalition's policy is quite clear, and it's one that I support. We support the current definition of marriage. "That's been our consistent position, and certainly one we took to the last election."
Mara Schneiders and Bel St Clair deliver red roses to the electoral office of Andrew Nikolic in support of marriage equality. Picture: NEIL RICHARDSON
GAY marriage supporters Mara Schneiders and Bel St Clair made a symbolic Valentine's Day delivery to the electorate office of Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic yesterday.
The two Bass constituents arrived on foot at the St John Street headquarters to deliver a bunch of red roses and a card that read, "What are you waiting for?"
The gesture was part of a national campaign launched by Australian Marriage Equality.
The offices of 50 federal MPs across the country were targeted by people waiting for reform to the Marriage Act.
Speaking outside Mr Nikolic's electorate office yesterday morning, Ms Schneiders said she was excited to be involved in the day of action.
"Today is Valentine's Day, so it's a great day to remind us about love," she said.
"It's about remembering love whatever guise it is and whoever that's for."
Ms Schneiders said she was taking part to show her support for a conscience vote on marriage equality in the Federal Parliament.
"I think if we can have a conscience vote then people will have an opportunity to go home to their electorate and think about change more broadly," she said.
"It's difficult if a conscience vote doesn't happen, but I think change is coming - it's just a matter of time."
Mr Nikolic was in Canberra when the roses were delivered.
"It's a shame Andrew wasn't here so that we could pass them on personally," Ms Schneiders said.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Nikolic said he was flattered to receive the flowers, but his views on marriage had not changed.
"It's been many years since someone has given me roses, so I'm touched by that," he said.
"As for marriage policy issues, I think the Coalition's policy is quite clear, and it's one that I support. We support the current definition of marriage.
"That's been our consistent position, and certainly one we took to the last election."
