Political commentator Graham Richardson has declared he no longer supports the idea of a plebiscite on marriage equality.
The respected retired politician says Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should just schedule a free vote on the issue.
Writing in The Australian, Richardson said the recent controversy over Margaret Court comments had convinced him that Australia would be unable to have a respectful debate on the issue.
“Both sides have become so obsessed and hysterical over not just their case but in attempts to stop any alternative view being put.” Richardson said.
The former Hawke-Keating government minister said he though the comments from the Western Australian religious leader were “as outrageous as they were stupid”.
Richardson said opponents on both side of the debate no longer had any concept of courtesy or democracy.
“I have publicly sided with Malcolm Turnbull and the government on holding a referendum on this question.
“As an unabashed supporter of marriage equality, I naively believed that a referendum could be conducted in a civil manner.
“Both sides of this debate have now demonstrated such a lack of civility that this Utopian dream is finished before it began.” Richardson said.
The SKY News commentator said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should move forward with a free vote in parliament.
OIP Staff
