Dean Smith said a national poll on the issue would establish a unsafe precedent and pointed out no plebiscite supporters were calling for peoples’ votes on issues such as euthanasia.
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‘There is no doubt, no doubt whatsoever, that were there to be a yes vote in the plebiscite the amendments would pass (Parliament),’ he said.
‘As a lifelong conservative I am not prepared to see the principle of parliamentary sovereignty undermined for all time simply because in this moment it is politically convenient, ‘ he wrote in an opinion piece for Fairfax newspapers.
He informed the Coalition partyroom of his position when it considered the plebiscite on Tuesday morning.
The Attorney General said the government may be willing to compromise on some of the vote’s mechanics if Labor agreed to back it. Legislation for it will be introduced this week.
The non-binding plebiscite would take place on February 11. Brandis said this was a completely neutral formulation.
For this reason the Greens, the three Nick Xenophon Team senators, and Senator Derryn Hinch have all stated that they will vote against the legislation required to implement the plebiscite.
The government would also be seeking to have authorisation apply to “new communications mechanisms such as robocalls and SMS messaging”.
I am well aware that no explanation on my part will be enough to placate those critics who, disappointingly and dishonestly, wish to portray this as ‘the gay Senator campaigning for gay marriage’. The other five on each committee would be appointed by the government, again following the republic referendum experience.
The government argues public funding is needed to have a fully informed debate on the issue.
“If ever there is an issue to be put to a plebiscite, this is one that can be, and should be, because it is a very straightforward question”. They did not want to take the risk of the public voting against marriage equality.
‘We will keep the pressure up for a vote in the parliament, ‘ he told ABC radio, while admitting that it may not happen immediately.
“But we have grave reservations”. McKenzie is against same-sex marriage and was asked, along with the rest of the panel, whether a nationwide vote on the issue is worth the cost and potential emotional and mental health outcomes which would likely befall the LGBTQ community. Is it worth $160 million plus $15 million, plus whatever else gets spent?
Labor, the Greens, and the Liberal-Democrats all have bills to present to Parliament to legalize same sex marriage via a parliamentary vote.
On Friday, 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell pressed the Prime Minister on whether this applied to the plebiscite and the company tax cuts, policies the government has previously insisted would not change.
“It is still an unpleasant process to have your families, your relationships and your identity weighed and measured by the general public”, said Brady.
A vote on the proposed plebiscite is expected to take place the week of October 10.
The Turnbull Government has introduced legislation forcing broadcasters to air advertisements for both the yes and no campaigns on marriage equality, with an $1800 fine if they don’t.
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Mr Turnbull is a marriage equality advocate who is the only serving prime minister to attend Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
