SENATE COULD VOTE DOWN MARRIAGE EQUALITY PLEBISCITE

Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Australia

ADVOCATES CALL ON TURNBULL TO DROP PLEBISCITE PLAN

Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the final Senate result saying there is a good possibility the Government’s proposed plebiscite could be blocked.

Labor, the Greens and the Xenophon Team have all expressed their opposition to a plebiscite and only one more Senator is required to vote it down.

Long-time marriage equality advocate, Rodney Croome, who resigned from his role at Australian Marriage Equality on Tuesday to campaign against a plebiscite, said,

“The Senate results potentially make it difficult for the Government to move forward with a plebiscite so I urge it to drop the idea and have a free vote in parliament instead.”

“A free vote is a quicker, cheaper and less risky path to a reform the majority of Australians not only support but are impatient for.”

“The Government has no mandate for a plebiscite because it refused to give any details about its proposal before the election, whereas Labor, the Greens and some crossbenchers were very clear in their opposition to a national vote and have a mandate to block it.”

National spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Shelley Argent, vowed to campaign hard to ensure the Senate blocks a plebiscite.

“Recent research shows overwhelming opposition to a plebiscite in the LGBTI community and declining support in the general community.”

“In the lead up to the next sitting of parliament we will be launching a new campaign to encourage everyday Australians to voice their concerns to federal politicians and call for a free vote”

“We don’t want to stop marriage equality, we want to change the process so it is less costly, less damaging, fairer and faster.”

A recent Galaxy poll found support in the general community for a marriage equality plebiscite has declined to 48%. A survey of 5,500 LGBTI Australians released on Monday found 85% opposition to a plebiscite, including 60% opposition under any circumstances.
Rodney Croome, Shelley Argent