Senators and advocates say “no plebiscite”
• Door-knocking finds 68% support for marriage equality in Lutana
• Up to 83% support for marriage equality across five other Tasmanian suburbs and towns
• Senators join marriage equality supporters in call for parliamentary vote now, no plebiscite
Tasmania’s most senior ALP senator, Carol Brown, and Australians Greens’ Senator, Nick McKim today joined Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality (TUME) in calling for a parliamentary vote on marriage equality rather than the proposed plebiscite. The group unveiled a large banner that reads Tasmanians want marriage equality now, not a $175 million opinion poll (photos attached).
The support of the ALP and Australian Greens comes as TUME revealed the results of a door-knock of the largely blue-collar suburb of Lutana. The door-knock of every house in Lutana over the last three months found 68% support for marriage equality.
Long-time Tasmanian marriage equality advocate, Rodney Croome, said:
I congratulate all the TUME door-knockers for proving beyond doubt that Tasmanians overwhelmingly support marriage equality. There is no need to waste $175 million on a divisive, non-binding plebiscite when we already know that Tasmanians strongly back marriage equality. It’s time for politicians to do their job and pass this long overdue reform.
Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality have previously door knocked five other Hobart suburbs and Southern Tasmanian towns: Battery Point (72% support) Taroona (71% support), Midway Point (67% support), Opossum Bay (73% support) and the Glebe (83% support). The marriage equality campaigner who co-ordinated the door-to-door petition, Benedict Bartl, said,
The strong result from Lutana once again demonstrates that Tasmanians want marriage equality now. A simple show of hands in both Houses of the Federal Parliament is all that it should take to put this issue to rest and end the discrimination perpetrated against same-sex couples who want to marry.
Find attached two photos from today’s action. The person in front of the banner is Benedict Bartl who co-ordinated the TUME door knocking volunteers.
Rodney Croome, Benedict Bartl
