The Australian government has proposed a date for a possible compulsory plebiscite on same-sex marriage, in which voters are to be asked: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”
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The Turnbull government’s plans to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage have fallen into deeper disarray, with a Liberal senator revealing he will refuse to vote with his party on the issue.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced legislation on Parliament on Wednesday on the first anniversary of him getting the job.
His government does not have a majority in the Senate, and two minor parties that back same-sex marriage have said they will not support the public vote.
A gay senator in Turnbull’s conservative Liberal Party, Dean Smith, announced that he would not vote for the February 11 plebiscite to be held.
“It is vital that we respect all of those views in this debate”.
The prime minister used question time to blast what he termed “the extraordinary hateful expressions” being used by Labor figures against people who don’t support the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
Turnbull responded to his critics on Wednesday.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said the provision of $7.5 million for the “no” side would lead to “appalling abuse” of public funds, and indicated Labor was now more inclined to block the plebiscite in the Senate.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said he was “quietly confident” the omnibus bill would pass and Labor frontbencher Brendan O’Connor said there had been “very significant negotiations” between Senator Cormann and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen.
Bridget is a member of the conservative-leaning party The Nationals and has been outspoken regarding her opposition to marriage equality, despite the family ties.
A spokesman for Seven West Media said: “Consistent with our position as a media company, Seven West Media supports free speech and will offer reasonable opportunities to all participants in this debate to communicate their views”.
“Today is a win for families on low incomes, today is a win for Australians committed to real action on climate change”, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said.
Crossbenchers, including the Greens Party, and other independent candidates have also opposed the plebiscite.
“There are many, many of my colleagues. who have said both privately and publicly that they would vote “no” in the plebiscite but in the event the plebiscite were to carry, they would vote “yes” on the floor of the parliament”, he said. 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.
Mr Turnbull opposed the plebiscite before striking a deal with hard-right party powerbrokers to become prime minister.
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Mr Abbott is said to have praised the cabinet’s handling of the issue, and added that it would be folly for the Coalition to not accept the verdict of the Australian people from the plebiscite – whatever the result.
