Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is introducing the legislation for the plebiscite to the House of Representatives today after the Coalition party room signed off on government’s proposal yesterday.
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Turnbull, who became prime minister after replacing Tony Abbott, is a marriage equality advocate and the only serving prime minister to attend the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
But the February 11 plebiscite would have no legal weight.
The result of a plebiscite is not binding, unlike a referendum; it is simply an expensive opinion poll, costing around AUD$160 million (US$120 million) to conduct.
They fear that government plans to spend 15 million Australian dollars (£8.3 million) on publicising the cases for and against marriage equality would give legitimacy to bigoted and homophobic views.
In the coalition’s mandate, Turnbull said the issue of marriage had yet to be addressed, adding that his wife Lucy supports same-sex marriage.
“We have to respect and we must respect. the diversity of views on this issue”.
Conservative backbencher Senator Eric Abetz declared on Sunday that the Prime Minister had promised public funding for the respective campaigns and the plebiscite vote would not be “proper” if money was withheld.
“There will be a plebiscite on the 11th of February unless (opposition Labor leader) Bill Shorten decides to block it (in the Senate)”, he said. Dozens of Australian LGBT advocacy groups on Wednesday formally expressed their opposition to the plebiscite. If Turnbull really believes that if the Australian people vote “no” that they have not got the wrong answer then he does not believe that the law as it stands – restricting marriage to a man and a woman – infringes the principle of equality.
The debate surrounding marriage equality in Australia has pit some family members against each other-only most don’t go at it on national television.
The bishop has spoken out against the plebiscite, arguing that Parliament should decide on such matters and that it is “almost inevitable” that hate speech will rise in the event of a national vote. In June 2015 the supreme court required all states to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples because to refuse to do so would violate the 14th amendment, which promises equality before the law.
The campaign calls for MPs to be given a free vote in Parliament to legislate for same-sex marriage.
“We’ll discuss this in our Caucus meeting. but I would be very, very surprised if we have anyone in the Labor party who is going to speak up in favour of the plebiscite”, she told HuffPost Australia.
The government does not have a majority in the Senate, and two minor parties that support same-sex marriage have said they won’t vote for a plebiscite.
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However, despite Prime Minister Turnbull’s omission on 3AW Radio, a spokeswoman for his office later confirmed to Fairfax Media that there would be no changes to the plebiscite policy, its question or the public funding of the “yes” and “no” campaigns.
