Turnbull introduced the legislation, which aims to set up a plebiscite on gay marriage, on Wednesday (14 September).
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However, with key crossbenchers opposed to the plebiscite and Labor leader Bill Shorten expected to recommend to caucus that the bill be opposed, it will be defeated in the Senate.
According to recent polls, around 70 percent of Australians approve of legalizing same-sex “marriage”. “If ever there is an issue to be put forward to a plebiscite, it’s this one and should be because it’s a very straight forward question”, he said. We’ve spent months building relationships with people all over the country, we have the technical infrastructure to build a bold campaign and the ability to reach thousands of people in the country and in cities.
Australia has become increasingly isolated among English-speaking nations on the issue, with the USA and Ireland a year ago joining countries including United Kingdom and New Zealand in legalizing same-sex marriage. You have been Prime Minister for a year now. But Tony Abbott wasn’t able to completely ignore the public demand for change.
“Have a vote in the Parliament?”
“It’s clear the extreme right wing of the Liberal party are setting marriage equality up to fail”, he said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and LNP MP George Christensen during question time at Parliament House this week.
Turnbull hasn’t outlined what will happen if the plebiscite is blocked. We do not mind who gets the credit.
AME chairman Alex Greenwich slammed the government’s proposal, particularly the provision of public funding and the $1500 cap on tax deductible donations to both sides.
“Marriage equality can be considered, debated and achieved within this term”.
In most jurisdictions, marriage equality has become legal due to decisions of parliament or the courts. More than 50 percent of the nation would have to vote in favor of the plebiscite in order for it to be successful, unlike a referendum where it needs to gain majority votes in a majority of states.
“It won’t wash with young people, especially when we purport to treat gay people with love and compassion and yet define their sexuality as ‘intrinsically disordered.’ This is particularly true when the Church has not been a shining beacon and a trailblazer in the fight against inequality and intolerance”.
Whether it’s an attempt to undermine or overthrow current, snails-pace Liberal plans for a plebiscite on the matter or a genuine call for change, it’s about bloody time.
Looks like the much-maligned same-sex marriage plebiscite is likely no more.
This is where it gets complicated. One was introduced by Bill Shorten and the other was introduced by the Greens and independents.
The vote will take place on February 11th.
‘Whether that debate is in the parliament or whether that debate is a debate that involves all members of the community in a plebiscite, this debate is happening now’.
“Then, whatever the outcome of the plebiscite is, it will still be divisive”.
Both Turnbull and Shorten are publicly in favor of marriage equality. An ongoing stalemate could see the issue unresolved during the current three-year term of parliament.
The story Marriage plebiscite: TV, radio networks forced to air yes and no ads during campaign first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Now that Labor has reportedly chose to block the plebiscite, we’re on the latter path.
