Most Australians don’t want a plebiscite: poll

Most Australians don’t want a plebiscite: poll
Image: Photo: Twitter via @TurnbullMalcolm

A BRAND new poll reveals only a very small number of people support a plebiscite to decide if same-sex marriages should be legal in Australia.

The July Galaxy poll reveals only 48 per cent of Australians support a plebiscite, but that number falls to 33 per cent when they learn it won’t be binding and drops to 25 per cent when the find out it will cost at least $160 million.

 One thousand people of voting age were surveyed in the poll commissioned by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

PFLAG national spokesperson, Shelley Argent urged the government to listen to what Australians want and ditch the plebiscite.

“The Government must heed the Australian public by dropping its plan for a costly, damaging and pointless plebiscite and allowing a free vote in parliament ASAP,” she said.

“The Australian public just voted for a new parliament in which a majority of members support marriage equality.

“I call on Mr Turnbull, allow a vote in parliament so Australia can achieve marriage equality and move on.”

Argent said PFLAG will now scale up its anti-plebiscite advocacy with social media, letter writing and television advertising campaigns planned.

“We are not going to rest until this ridiculous plebiscite is off the table and parliament does its job by passing marriage equality,” she said.

Rodney Croome has been a long-time marriage equality and LGBTI rights advocate said its clear support for a plebiscite is waning.

“Support for a plebiscite has fallen dramatically since it was first mooted in August last year and about 70 per cent of the public backed the idea,” he said.

“I attribute this to the public being made aware of how costly, unnecessary and damaging it will be.

“To avoid a plebiscite, marriage equality advocates must continue to educate the public about how a free vote in parliament is the most appropriate and effective way forward.”

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