The chance of the government’s plebiscite legislation progressing through the senate are looking slim. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said he’ll discuss the issue and the next Labor caucus meeting but Anthony Albanese has told Andrew Bolt he’s not heard anyone on the Labor side offering support.
Last night Labor front-bencher Albanese appeared on the SKY News program The Bolt Report.
Albanese said the party would consider the legislation once they’d had a chance to read it in full, but it was looking unlikely it would get their support.
“We’ll wait and see the legislation before caucus meets and makes a determination, but I haven’t heard anyone arguing on the Labor side, or in my local community, that the idea of a plebiscite is a great idea.” Albanese said.
Albanese said he was opposed to the plebiscite and could see no reason for it to go forward.
“I can see no reason why this as all issues should be singled out. I see that as discriminatory in itself. This is just a fix for the issues that were there inside the coalition party room.”
The Shadow transport minister said the issue of marriage equality should be dealt with by a free vote in parliament. The MP said this is what politicians do every day and the issue of marriage should not be treated differently.
“Why is this issue being singled out so we have a debate and cast a judgement essentially on people’s family’s status? The fact is that we don’t have plebiscites on anything.” Albanese said describing past uses of the mechanism in the 1900’s as an anomaly.
Albanese said it was now up to the government to decide what to do next.
“If the government chooses to block the right of members of parliament to vote on this issue then that will be a decision for them.”
OIP Staff
