Tasmanian gay rights advocates have called on Premier Will Hodgman to write to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asking him to drop his proposed plebiscite and allow a free vote in Parliament instead.
The call comes after Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, wrote a similar letter.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“I call on Will Hodgman to follow Daniel Andrew’s lead and speak out against the proposal for a costly, divisive and unnecessary plebiscite.”
“A plebiscite will cost $160 million, money that would go a long way to alleviate the funding shortfalls in Tasmania’s health and education systems.”
“A plebiscite will also cause division in the community and threaten the mental health of vulnerable LGBTI Tasmanians at a time when we should be uniting around the positive values we all share as Tasmanians.”
“Many Tasmanians will remember the divisive, hateful debate about decriminalising homosexuality that our state went through in the 1990s and the last thing they want is a repeat of that awful time.”
“All marriage equality polling shows the reform has majority support in Tasmania so there’s no need for a costly and divisive plebiscite.”
“A free vote in Federal Parliament will resolve the issue of marriage equality quickly and fairly.”
“It’s time for MPs to do the job we pay them for, making laws.”
For a news report on Andrew Daniel’s letter go to:
http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/samesex-marriage-plebiscite-premier-daniel-andrews-attacks-malcolm-turnbull-20160724-gqcu45.html
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome
