Most Australians want a national vote on legalising same-sex marriage before any decision is made by politicians, a new poll has shown.
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Tweed-based Greens spokesperson Dawn Walker has condemned the move as ‘another example of disgraceful lack of leadership from [a] Prime Minister, who has again shown that he is out of touch with the community, ‘.
A total of 76 per cent backed a national vote, with the level of support virtually the same through every category of those who want same-sex marriage, those who oppose it and those who are neutral (77 per cent, 77 per cent and 74 per cent).
A Cabinet meeting in Canberra on Monday may settle the way forward, but the strength of voter sentiment and the apparent permanence of the Government’s poll deficit to Labor suggests that merely extending the hope of reform at a later date will be unconvincing.
That would mean the loss of up to 36 Coalition seats – Labor needs just 21 to form a majority government.
On a two party preferred basis the Opposition are ahead of the Government, with a 54 per cent approval rating compared to the Liberal’s 46 per cent.
The government has endured several nightmare weeks, embroiled in the expenses row that led to the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop as Speaker, engaging in open internal conflict over same-sex marriage and fending off claims of partisanship against the trade union royal commissioner, Dyson Heydon.
It secured 46 per cent of the primary vote at the last election.
“They don’t trust the coalition”, he told reporters.
Neither leader is very popular.
Tony Abbott’s disapproval rating slipped one point to 59% in the poll.
However, Abbott still holds a clear edge over Turnbull when that question is asked of Coalition voters exclusively.
T the same-sex marriage debate put them on the wrong side of public opinion and led to public bickering between frontbenchers.
But among Coalition voters Abbott still led with 33%, with Turnbull on 25% and Bishop on 23%.
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In any event, pro-reform advocates view this as nothing more than a tactic to first delay and then defeat the push for equality.
