MEDIA RELEASE
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
TURNBULL PUSHES PLEBISCITE INTO THE NEVER-NEVER
Last night on ABC’s 730 program it became painfully clear that Prime Minister Turnbull does not consider the marriage equality plebiscite to be any kind of a priority for his government, and in fact it is unlikely it will actually be held this year.
Which begs the question – with the conservative right wing of his party baying at his heels, will it ever happen at all?
Labor has consistently said, before the election and after, that a plebiscite will be destructive and unnecessary. It will waste $160 million of taxpayer money and provide a platform for hate campaigns, all because Mr Turnbull does not have the guts to just put a vote to Parliament. But after using the plebiscite to pretend he was committed to the cause of marriage equality throughout the election campaign, he is now backing away from it.
During the campaign, Mr Turnbull repeatedly said he expected a plebiscite to happen before the end of 2016. In March, his Attorney-General George Brandis said a plebiscite would definitely be held before the end of the year and the Marriage Act also changed by then.
But now, it appears Mr Turnbull is just not that bothered. In an interview with ABC’s Leigh Sales last night, he said legislation would be brought “forward in the course of this year”, “we would like the plebiscite to be held as soon as is practicable” and it could be “held early next year”.
You don’t have to read behind the lines – Mr Turnbull is backing away from his pledge.
The Australian Electoral Commission has said it needs as long as 29 weeks to prepare for the plebiscite to be held. If Mr Turnbull were truly determined to hold it before the end of 2016, legislation would need to be put forward in the first week of Parliament. Clearly, this is not Mr Turnbull’s intention.
The old Turnbull would have stayed true to his commitment to marriage equality. The new Turnbull has taken the Australian people to the election on an falsehood, and will now let marriage equality in Australia once again drift.
There is no need for Malcolm Turnbull’s divisive and wasteful plebiscite. Parliament should do its job and deal with a marriage equality bill now, with all parties afforded a conscience vote.
The LGBTI community have waited long enough, and Australia is becoming an international embarrassment.
Marriage equality has enough support in the Parliament that it could be made reality on day one of the first sitting week if Mr Turnbull had the courage of his convictions. But thanks to Mr Turnbull’s inability to stand up to the right wing of his party, the situation is now looking more hopeless than ever.
TUESDAY, 19 JULY 2016
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