Ding dong the plebiscite is dead

Ding dong the plebiscite is dead
Image: Bill Shorten (PHOTO: Coal Photography; Star Observer)

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has confirmed the Labor party will block legislation to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality.

The decision the caucus made today followed Shorten’s and Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek’s advice to not support the parliament.

Plebiscite legislation is now unlikely to pass the Senate as the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and now Labor will vote against it.

Shorten addressed media this morning surrounded by rainbow families and explained why Labor decided not to support the plebiscite.

He accused the government of shifting the goalposts on what changes would be made to the Marriage Act in the event of a ‘yes’ vote, which included allowing religions and marriage celebrants to refuse to marry same-sex couples.

“Imagine if we had been foolish enough to rush into this decision and support a plebiscite then we find out that the plan which Brandis and Turnbull had, again caving in to the right, is to water down discrimination laws,” Shorten said.

“Of course Labor supports religious freedom in this country but there are already laws in place to prevent discrimination.

“What sort of case are Turnbull and Brandis putting up when they are asking us to agree to their legislation, then at 11p.m, the night before, they drop out legislation changing the rules of the game mid game?”

Shorten said the caucus voted unanimously to block the plebiscite and that marriage equality should be decided by a free vote.

“There is more than one door to open to achieve marriage equality,” he said.

“The easiest way is….legislate.”

Advocacy groups spent months campaigning against the plebiscite and have welcomed Labor’s decision, including the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) who is calling on all parties to work together to legislate for marriage equality through a free vote in 2016.

“There are currently two alternative marriage equality bills in Parliament that don’t involve a plebiscite. With the support of Coalition MPs, either of these bills could see marriage equality achieved this week,” VGLRL Co-Convenor Rachael Hambleton said.

“We just need to look at the consistent public polling that shows the majority of Australians support marriage equality.

“We are closer than ever before to reaching marriage equality and we are being met with needless stalling tactics.”

The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW GLRL) said today’s decision by the federal Labor party room to not support legislation allowing a plebiscite is a win for common sense and community welfare.

“It has always been our belief that the most effective way of achieving marriage equality is with a free vote in the Parliament,” NSW GLRL co-convenor Lauren Foy said.

“Along with countless other LGBTI community groups, we’ve held grave concerns about the impact of a plebiscite on millions of Australians. The ALP’s decision is the right one, but this isn’t the end of the issue – it’s just the beginning.

“Attention will now shift to continuing meaningful discussions with MPs from all parties in order to achieve marriage equality as soon as possible.”

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2 responses to “Ding dong the plebiscite is dead”

  1. Malcolm Turnbull should do the right thing and go to the Govenor-General to call a federal election immedietly and then go straight to jail for HIH insurance fraud when he was a director of the company!

  2. Well I think it is a good thing that the Plebiscite is DEAD. I can however understand that a lot of GBLTI people are going to be very disappointed that they can’t get married in Australia. My partner and I married in the UK in 2014 and it was a lovely day and such a great celebration. The Cameron conservative government changed the law to allow same sex couples to marry and it was achieved very easily. Who would have thought that a conservative government would achieve this?

    We would love to marry here in Australia, but, we feel the Plebiscite is hateful and hurtful and will open up discrimination not seen here for a long time. It is a real shame the LNP Government won’t allow a free vote, but they know that the legislation would have to be passed as most MP’s are in favor.

    It is a sad day for GLBTI Australians who have been let down by this government and it is a pity that such hate filled speeches and leaflets have already been distributed by the right and Christian groups like the ACL.

    But we should not despair as we will get Marriage Equality very soon and I feel that the Turnbull Government (a weak leader) will have to go to the polls on this and other issues before 2017 is even half way through.

    We need to keep pressure on all political parties and MP’s to ensure that we get Marriage Equality and that a free vote in parliament is achieved.

    I would like to remind the ACL that our relationships are just as precious as their relationships and generally gay relationships are much more stable than those of heterosexual relationships.

    One thing I don’t like is the Americanisation of gay relationships in a way that encourages discrimination on the basis of sexuality. The plebiscite would allow religious and non-religious organisations to say not to GLBTI people and to allow for direct discrimination on goods and services. This would open up another avenue for gay hate related issues.