Don't shoot the marriage messenger

It is sad that talk about marriage in the public sphere has become so politicised, partly around the fight for same-sex marriage, that any discussion is now deemed to be political in intent.

Marriage is too important to be left in the hands of lobby groups, of any persuasion, or politicians.

It is too central to social wellbeing, cohesion and productivity to be treated as something we should not be allowed to discuss, openly, honestly and with compassion.

If we try to still the reasonable voices of judges who've proven their integrity through long public service, on issues as foundational to our social architecture as stable marriages, we demonstrate how little we value those cornerstones.