Premium Content:

Olympic champion Ian Thorpe condemns the plebiscite plan

Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has criticised the Turnbull governments plan to hold a plebiscite on the issue of marriage equality.

- Advertisement -

Appearing on The Morning Show alongside partner Ryan Channing, Thorpe said the government’s decision was disappointing.

“We don’t have the right to get married which is quite apparent at this stage…

“I find what’s going on in this marriage equality debate – it is disappointing,” Thorpe said.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the government would have a second stab at getting its failed plebiscite policy though the senate, and declared if the move was unsuccessful he would deploy a non-compulsory, non-binding postal vote administered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

With his political opponents opposed to the plebiscite declaring they will still block the legislation, the postal options seems to almost be a certainty.

Marriage equality advocates however have vowed to challenged the legality of the plan in the High Court, arguing that the use of $122 million dollars of public funds without parliamentary oversight is unconstitutional.

Ian Thorpe said it was clear that the government was simply using a stalling tactic.

“The plebiscite, the postal plebiscite or whatever it is is just a stalling tactic that the government will use because they don’t want to to their job on this,” he said.

“It will have to come to a vote in the parliament and we are waiting for that to happen.”


Support OUTinPerth

Thanks for reading OUTinPerth. We can only create LGBTIQA+ focused media with your help.

If you can help support our work, please consider assisting us through a one-off contribution to our GoFundMe campaign, or a regular contribution through our Patreon appeal.

Become a Supporter→     Make a contribution→ 

Latest

Lawyer for Beau Lamarre-Condon withdraws from the case

The former police officer will now be represented by NSW Legal Aid.

Narelda Jacobs takes on new role as patron of Rainbow Futures WA

The Channel 10 newsreader has shared her excitement about her new role.

Cast announced for new Gregg Araki film ‘I Want Your Sex’ 

Araki was behind the cult classics 'The Doom Generation', 'Totally Fucked Up' and 'Nowhere'.

Vengaboys are back in town 

The Vengabus will be back in town.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Lawyer for Beau Lamarre-Condon withdraws from the case

The former police officer will now be represented by NSW Legal Aid.

Narelda Jacobs takes on new role as patron of Rainbow Futures WA

The Channel 10 newsreader has shared her excitement about her new role.

Cast announced for new Gregg Araki film ‘I Want Your Sex’ 

Araki was behind the cult classics 'The Doom Generation', 'Totally Fucked Up' and 'Nowhere'.

Vengaboys are back in town 

The Vengabus will be back in town.

Conservatives in the UK are outraged about a Pride poppy pin for Remembrance Day

The Royal British Legion have defended offering a pin for Remembrance Day that includes the Pride Progress flag. 

Lawyer for Beau Lamarre-Condon withdraws from the case

The former police officer will now be represented by NSW Legal Aid.

Narelda Jacobs takes on new role as patron of Rainbow Futures WA

The Channel 10 newsreader has shared her excitement about her new role.

Cast announced for new Gregg Araki film ‘I Want Your Sex’ 

Araki was behind the cult classics 'The Doom Generation', 'Totally Fucked Up' and 'Nowhere'.