Half a billion dollars: the cost of a marriage equality plebiscite
Image: (PHOTO: Matthew Wade; Star Observer)
A PLEBISCITE on marriage equality could cost Australians more than $500 million dollars — three times higher than figures currently quoted — according to research by a leading accounting firm.
PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia today released modelling estimates that indicated a standalone plebiscite on marriage equality — one that is not held on the same day as the federal election — would cost the Australian tax economy $525 million.
The modelling takes into account a number of costs associated with the campaign, including a taxpayer-funded $158 million to hold the plebiscite, $66 million for groups to fund campaigns in favour or against marriage equality, $281 million in lost productivity as people take time out to vote, and at least $20 million in costs associated with the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of Australian citizens.
“The real costs to government, the economy and members of the community to hold a standalone plebiscite are more than three times higher than the numbers commonly quoted,” PwC Australia chief executive Luke Sayers said.
PwC economics and policy partner Jeremy Thorpe said: “Overseas examples show that spending on the ‘for’ and ‘against’ campaigns alone can reach over $6 per voter, as happened in California. That’s a huge waste of money that could be better allocated in our low-growth economy.”
The impact of a public campaign on LGBTI people would also “conservatively” cost $20 million to the health system as an estimated 50,000 people seek mental health services and potentially miss work.
“Arguments opposing marriage equality in the media and community forums will have an impact on mood disorders and mental health of LGBTI people,” PwC partner Suzi Russell-Gilford said of the findings.
“This will be devastating for a segment of the community already more susceptible to mental health issues as a result of discrimination.”
Remember PwC didn’t only predict the plebiscite would cost $500m but also will cause higher levels of discrimination & mental health #auspol
— Nick (@NSunners) March 13, 2016
Sayers said the modelling shows a parliamentary vote was the most cost effective way to decide the issue as it would only cost about $17 million compared to the a standalone plebiscite at $525 million. Meanwhile, a plebiscite held at the same time as a federal election is estimated to cost $113 million.
“It’s clear from these findings that a standalone plebiscite on marriage equality is a massive waste of time and money that will remove focus on the economy, growth and jobs which is the real priority for Australia,” Sayers said.
“The mechanism chosen to make this change is vital to minimise the cost to the economy and health and wellbeing of our communities.”
Marriage equality advocates have appealed to federal cabinet to reconsider the marriage equality plebiscite.
“Every single government minister must read this report before Cabinet considers legislation for a plebiscite,” Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Rodney Croome said.
“With the stakes so high for the economy and for the mental health of LGBTI Australians the Government needs to reconsider it’s position.
“It’s a sign of maturity and strength to change your mind in the face of new information. The plebiscite legislation will be a minefield of unexpected costs, unintended consequences, and complications about timing and public funding.
“More and more Coalition members are speaking out against a plebiscite and I encourage them to raise the issue in the party room as soon as possible.”
“The best way to resolve the marriage equality issue is with a free vote in the parliament as soon as possible.”
Most of PwC’s 500 million are rubbery figures at most. They are saying that the cost of each person going to the voting booth and voting should be included as a cost when for over 90% of them it is during their leisure time on a Saturday and is no cost at all to the taxpayer. Talk about skewing figures to support their argument..
That half a billion money should go to duplicate the rest of the Pacific Highway goat track in Northern NSW!
Politics at it’s best… Abandon the deal & claim saving the NSW taxpayer 1/2 a billion dollars & cost less than removing our current political waste!
Australia is in a complete and utter shambles with this Liberal party dysfunctional government! Malcolm Turnbull call an election now!
Call a federal election immediately Malcolm Turnbull!
The Senate just voted 50-26 AGAINST marriage equality. The LNP, Greens and 3 Independents voted AGAINST marriage equality just about 2 hours ago! I will be voting for the Australian Sex Party (AXP) again, like I did in the last 2013 and 2010 federal elections! The Greens actually voted against their own marriage equality bill, how fucking crazy is that!
Half a billion dollars of taxpayers money, you have to be fucking kidding me! The whole world has gone completely fucking mad!
What about schools, hospitals, roads and feeding the homeless with half a billion dollars hey? No that is too good for the Liberal Nazi party indeed! Malcolm Turnbull is a currupt prime minister and should be expelled from the Australian parliament for life on charges of money laundering in the Cayman Islands, not disclosing ACL business interests and hate crimes against the gay community and should be immediately deported to Nauru or Manus Island!
It seems to me the Liberal party wants to get us Aussies into debt and deficit of today! The Labor party are the party that seems to be the economic managers of today! In the past it was the exact opposite!
Craig, then again you may be completely naïve or stupid?
Malcolm Turnbull is a dysfunctional cunt!
I want a federal election called immediately! Fuck that dysfunctional cunt Malcolm Turnbull off out of Parliament!
Dear Hoa Truong, get well soon…..
This total abomination of a plebiscite is absolutely unforgivable. And the Libs are seriously expecting us to vote them back in, apparently.. they have superior financial management expertise ???
THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE, HUMAN BEING CATASTROPHE.
There are three global flags in the world:
1-The pirate flag: in the old days, the sea bandit used black flag symbolizes the white skull laid at middle two crossing bones. This flag being identity into the Ocean.
2-The communist flag: it appeared since Lenin took over Russia and set up the communist regime, the Red flag to be displayed the yellow hammer and sickle. From so called the October 1917 Revolution, the communist wave spread worldwide, the consequence is more than 100 million people killed, billion lost freedom and enslaved.
3-Nowadays the Rainbow flag: the same-sex marriage, a minor population in society, but they are backed by the left, the fallen politicians and the lost support party, they spread the individual issue to the world, and the same-sex marriage should control the world, it is the biggest issue, but disaster for the existence of people. The rainbow flag with the same sex marriage imposes their personal choice to public and nation. The same-sex marriage is the individual choice, not God will, therefore it raises more problem to society, nation. The same-sex marriage threatens the population and against the traditional marriage.
The most fallen policy party, unpopulated leader, leftist use the shields Climate Change and the same-sex marriage to cover up their failure. Actually, the appearance of same-sex marriage to be politicized and it spread world widely with their symbol is the rainbow flag. The same-sex marriage is an ugly human being’s form that threatens against the human existence. Since million years ago, when an early stage of human life, the tribal era just accepted man and woman married, then in the medieval era, the king or queen just had the traditional marriage, there was never had Gay king couple or Lesbian queen couple.
On the other hand, if the most animal being exercised the same sex intercourse practice, the world will have no meat, milk…that cause the damage ever for the environment, it opposes against the conservative organizations, including Greens, unfortunately, the Greens considered as the potential activity of the same sex marriage. So the same-sex marriage has been starting the catastrophe of the human being
(Hoa Minh Truong, author of 5 books published in New York
Mate you are bat shit fucking crazy as Tony Abbott, just like the policy of bringing back knights and dames!