Parliament can deliver civil marriage equality now

The leading national advocacy group for marriage equality, The Equality Campaign today said proposing an unnecessary postal plebiscite is nothing more than an expensive political trick to override role of the parliament and delay the settled will of the Australian people.

“The Senate has said no to a plebiscite, and along with the High Court of Australia made it crystal clear the only way to deliver marriage equality is through a vote in parliament,” said Alex Greenwich, Co-Chair of Australian Marriage Equality.

“Twenty four million Australians can’t fit inside the parliament, that is why our elected parliamentarians are there. The recent Senate Inquiry delivered a pathway that was fair for every Australian whilst having no impact on the religious celebration of marriage,” Alex Greenwich said.

Tiernan Brady, Executive Director, The Equality Campaign said,“ Telling one group of people that their rights cannot be decided by parliament but instead have to be decided by a separate process sends a clear and terrible message to Australians that LGBTI people have to reach a higher bar for their dignity. This is a dangerous precedent for all of society.

An unnecessary plebiscite of questionable legality will create social division rather than the type of social unity and celebration that we have seen in other countries across the world, most recently in Germany and Malta.

“Our message is clear to all Federal MP’s, it’s time to do your job and introduce marriage equality in line with the wishes and values of the Australian people. Marriage Equality can be a moment of national unity. It takes from no one but will have a profound impact on gay and lesbian Australians and their families and friends,” Tiernan Brady concluded.

For information on the LGBTI communities’ response to the senate inquiry go to:

http://www.equalitycampaign.org.au/welcome-senate-report
Clint McGilvray