LGBTI COMMUNITY VIEWS SOUGHT ON POSTAL VOTE

Equality advocates say they are seeking legal advice on a possible High Court challenge to a postal vote on marriage equality, and are asking the LGBTI community what it believes is the best response to the proposed postal vote.

Some Government members, including the Minister for immigration and Border Protection, Petter Dutton, want a $40 million postal vote on the issue that will be voluntary for voters and non-binding for politicians.

Long-time marriage equality advocate and just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“A postal vote will be a platform for fear-mongering and hate against the LGBTI community and our families, and we have a moral obligation to do all we can to stop it.”

“We are seeking advice about challenging the postal vote in the High Court and if the advice shows there is an arguable case we will see the Government in court.”

“We are also surveying the LGBTI community to determine its attitude to the postal vote and what it believes the best response should be.”

“This is in line with our commitment to ensuring the needs and wishes of the LGBTI community wishes are central to the direction of the marriage equality campaign.”

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and Rainbow Families Victoria back exploring a potential Court case.

PFLAG national spokesperson, Shelley Argent said,

“A postal vote will be be biased against equality for my son and others in the LGBTIQ community because highly-supportive groups like young people are the least likely to post back their ballot papers.”

“We’re also concerned that the Government will set the question in a negative manner because the ones pushing this insulting postal vote and the ones against equality.”

“A postal vote will resolve nothing because it’s very unlikely that both sides will accept the outcome.”

Rainbow Families Victoria spokesperson, Felicity Marlowe, said,

“A postal vote is not a legitimate process for making decisions about human rights and will erode our parliamentary democracy. .”

“LGBTI Australians, our families and our allies are insisting on equal marriage through an equal process, and not being singled out for an unfair process.”

“This is just a way to delay marriage equality, which is why it only has the support of opponents of the reform.”

“It’s not the job of Australia Post to deliver marriage equality. It’s the job of the Australian Parliament.”

For the LGBTI community survey go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PostalVote_F
Rodney Croome, justequal