The Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee have rejected a plebiscite as the best way to deal with marriage equality after their inquiry deemed legislation “a matter of urgency”.
Upon hearing submissions from a varied group of both opponents and proponents of marriage equality, the Committee led by Independent Senator Glenn Lazarus dismiss a plebiscite as costly and potentially harmful to the LGBT community and their children by delaying positive action.
“This issue of marriage equality involved people, and people will be attacked through very nasty and very aggressive advertising campaigns,” Senator Lazarus said.
“Quite clearly people that are for and against marriage equality would rather have the Parliament decide the outcome rather than going to a plebiscite.”
The report offered only one recommendation, which reads;
“The committee recommends that a bill to amend the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act 1961 to allow for the marriage between two people regardless of their sex is introduced into the Parliament as a matter of urgency, with all parliamentarians being allowed a conscience vote.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who supported a parliamentary conscience vote before Tony Abbott denied one to his party, has now said he will support Mr Abbott’s position and put the vote to the people of Australia by plebiscite.
The full report is available to read on the Australian Parliament website.
glad to see that someone is speaking sense …
Better to leave this until there is overwhelming support. It will look bad if it passes by only 1 vote, and thus will be easy to overturn on a revote.
I am totally fed up with the Lib’s, they change there colour to suit the day, Mr. Howard put paid to same sex marriage at a 2am vote, now let the parliament recind this and give all a free vote, of course if they do not this will let common sense prevail and when Labour wins the next election, it will come in, and of course what is left of the Lib’s will not have the numbers to do anything.
Plebescite will result in all sorts of movements opposed to marriage equality getting more than their fair share of negative, alarmist opinions successfully across to a large number of members of the the general public: most of whom, previously, would probably have been favourably disposed to the idea of equality. Even though opposing forces may be in a minority, they are so freaked out by the idea that they will spend huge slabs of time time and energy in swaying others’ previously-held, humane beliefs. The fairest way to effect marriage equality is to have a parliamentary conscience vote as originally supported by the now back-flipped Malcolm Turnbull. Any other approach to the establishing of equality recognition will either take too long or fail altogether. In the meantime many of us who have been in stable same sex relationship for forty-or-so years, will have left the planet.
Just do it, what difference would it make to anyone. We would be better off directing our energy to the poor and refugees. I feel Christians need to have another look at themselves and learn the love of their God. I never ask anyone if they are married, it is none of my business but I do question Christianity.
What on earth is everyone so afraid of ? Marriage Equlaity should be a very simple and non complicated issue. I am a Lesbian, I was Married at 18 to a great guy, we had a beautiful Daughter who has a daughhter of her own, We divorced 1984 I have a had 3 wonderful feamle partners over the last 30 years. My daughter and my granddaughter are both about as Straight as you could get. I find myself unable to fully comprehend the terror that this issue seems to bring out in the Uber Conservatives as well as the religious right. Malcolm Turnball has made enormous consessions to the Right wing of his party not just woth this issue but Climate Change.
Just get on with it. 68% of us agree with same sex marriage so what we have is a government that does not represent the majority of Australians on this issue. What a waste of time and money a plebiscite would be. Show some backbone please Malcolm and stop pandering to the religious right minority. Religion is becoming a too dominate force in government. It should not be there at all. Get the conscience vote under way now.
Plebiscite has no power under law. After spending $160,000,000 it will then have to go to a vote of Parliament. Let’s save $160 mil have the vote now and use the money for public housing instead. God knows it’s the only way most young people can get into housing.
Just pass it for Gods sake!! We are losing these couples to overseas where they spend their money to celebrate their love. They don’t care if the Australian Government recognises their marriage because it is none of the government’s business anyway. Love is love between human beings and let Love will find a way!!