Marriage equality should be voted by Parliament “as a matter of urgency”: Senate report
AUSTRALIAN Marriage Equality (AME) have urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider his support for a marriage equality plebiscite after a Senate report published today that states marriage equality should be resolved “urgently” by a vote in Federal Parliament.
The Senate report, which was produced after an inquiry last week that saw cross-party senators gather to hear from several groups for and against marriage equality, also stated that a public vote of any kind on amending the federal Marriage Act to enable marriage equality is unnecessary.
[showads ad=MREC]“Whether the definition of marriage should be changed to encompass the union of two people, regardless of sex, is a matter which is squarely within the Parliament’s power to legislate,” the report reads.
The report concludes with: “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.”
The report also included comments by Coalition senators involved in last week’s inquiry who believe a “compulsory plebiscite” would be the “most democratic course of action in settling the marriage equality debate”, while also acknowledging it could be costly.
Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice, who initiated the inquiry, backed the majority of the report, but said if there must be a plebiscite then parliament should strongly consider how it would be run and all aspects of conduct.
She also said it should be held at the next federal election.
“We firmly believe that appropriate parameters must be established around public advertising for the plebiscite and regulation of the media, including social media, appropriate limitations on campaigning, including the period of time under which campaigning is allowed, and really taking into account what the impact of campaigning could be on vulnerable people,” Rice told the Senate.
Just before the inquiry was held, the Victorian and NSW gay and lesbian rights lobbies released the results of a joint survey that confirmed 70 per cent of respondents were against a plebiscite.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has also said holding a plebiscite after the next election would cost $158.4 million, not including the public funding for either pro or against sides of the campaign. If it were to be during the election, the AEC estimated it would cost $44 million.
However, AME national director Rodney Croome has said the “Senate report makes it clear that the quickest, cheapest, least divisive and most appropriate way to deal with marriage equality is through a cross-party free vote on the floor of parliament”.
“In the light of this report, we call on Mr Turnbull to reconsider his support for a plebiscite after the election,” Croome added.
Croome said AME would continue to seek a meeting with Turnbull to put the case for him to act on marriage equality in this term of government.
“Should Mr Turnbull not shift position, we will focus our attention on making marriage equality a key issue at the next election, and ensuring that the next parliament supports marriage equality regardless of which party wins power,” Croome said.
Earlier this week, Turnbull confirmed that the Coalition under his leadership would continue to support a plebiscite on marriage equality, despite being a vocal supporter of the issue. He also previously stated his support for the Liberals to adopt a conscience vote in the lead-up to the Coalition party room meeting in August that rejected it.
To read the Senate report in full, click here.
[showads ad=FOOT]
Typical Australian Parliament, run by useless bogan-head Labor, Liberal, Greens, Katter, Family First, National parties and Independents, they rather be playing politics – than passing REAL reform, that actually benefits Australia as a whole in the future! Do your fucking job all you politicians at actually representing your people! 66 percent of Aussies want marriage equality (Nielson Poll August 2014)!
I am deeply embarrassed to be Australian! Vote 1 Australian Sex Party!
Turnbull has now become the latest fallen branch on the Yellow Brick Road of Equality. The deadwood PM has turned against the people that liked what he stood for. A plebiscite, sometime in the deep future, after an election, is a non-binding poll. It has no power. I am sorry to give narcissistic injury to our new PM, but I find it offensive that a polling company used to sprint to the lodge, is now not good enough to end discrimination and bring in equality as once Turnbull had power, well, it could not be trusted anymore. I find it horrendous Turnbull took power, without a single member of the public having a vote like some sort of wicked witch dictator. Yet we are expected, to gain further support of the obvious, endure years more hate material while some of us die, so Mr Turnbull can delay our Civil Rights. This is what he is doing, prolonging suffering and setting some of us up for abuse. The LNP came to power on the basis they would not change leaders, go figure. Australia has been fucked over by another obssessed with power and lacking values.
PASS IT NOW!
39 Senators support marriage equality in September 2015, that is a majority (38 votes is the majority) – but of course the government of the day never has a majority in the Senate. However in 2004, when both houses of parliament became Liberal under the 4th term John Winston Howard government the Marriage Amendment Bill 2004 was RUSHED into law – to outlaw gay marriage (with full support and backing of the bill, by the opposition Latham Labor party mind you)! Only about 55 House of Representative’s support gay marriage – so it still will not pass (you need at least 76 votes)!
@Steven – If Turnbull allows Liberals a free vote, it will pass both the House of Reps and the Senate. ALP members are overwhelmingly in favour and Turnbull should not make marriage equality wait for a plebiscite in a couple of years time.