PLEBISCITE OPTION “COLLAPSING” AS COALITION SPLITS

Advocates have responded to the growing number of Coalition MPs declaring they won’t abide by the outcome of a plebiscite on marriage equality.

Australian Marriage Equality National Director, Rodney Croome, said,

“A plebiscite was meant to smooth over divisions in the Coalition but clearly it is having the opposite effect.”

“We call on Mr Turnbull to allow marriage equality legislation to be debated in parliament as soon as possible so the reform can pass and Australia can move on.”

Mr Croome went on to say he is appalled by reports – – that Australian Christian Lobby chief, Lyle Shelton, has boasted that a plebiscite would succeed in “kicking the issue into the long grass” and “blunting” the momentum of the reform.

“It’s the height of hubris for opponents of marriage equality to think they can use $160m taxpayer dollars in an attempt to delay the aspirations of a majority of Australians”, he said.

“As a policy option the plebiscite is collapsing under the weight of its own cynicism.”

For a report on Mr Shelton’s comments, click here: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/28/same-sex-marriage-plebiscite-kicked-issue-into-long-grass-boasts-christian-lobby

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome