HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
TERRI BUTLER MP
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR CHILD SAFETY AND PREVENTION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH
MARRIAGE EQUALITY CAPTIVE TO GOVERNMENT RIGHT WING DEMANDS
Prime Minister Turnbull is proceeding with a damaging, wasteful plebiscite on same-sex marriage to appease the right-wing of his party, and now cant even get on with his plans because of their latest offensive demands for exemptions from anti-discrimination laws. What a farce this important issue has become.
Reports in The Guardian today suggest Attorney-General George Brandis has been stopped from making a cabinet submission this week on the details of the plebiscite because the party's right wing is demanding exemptions from anti-discrimination law so that bakers, florists, and function centres could legally refuse to supply goods and services to homosexual couples getting married.
This is the very legal issue that has been struck down by several courts in the United States, but that hasn't stopped our own Australian right-wingers from aping their Tea Party counterparts in putting forward such a ridiculous proposition.
Mr Turnbull has repeatedly failed to show any leadership on marriage equality an issue he actually believes in and has instead delivered a series of sops to his conservative wing to keep them in line. There is nothing to suggest he won't give in on their latest demands too.
This dispute is just the merest hint of the ugliness to come if this plebiscite goes ahead. You just have to look at the latest table-thumping from Cory Bernardi and his friends on the valuable Safe Schools program today to get an idea.
The damage that would be done to already vulnerable members of the Australian LGBTI community has been calculated at $20 million alone, but the emotional impact would be truly incalculable and it has already begun.
If Mr Turnbull is proceeding with the plebiscite, then the Australian people deserve to know the details as soon as possible, including whether the no campaign will receive taxpayer funding and what question will be put to them. But it seems we will not get that either.
None of this is necessary. If Mr Turnbull had the courage, he could put marriage equality to a vote today. And unlike their disgraceful actions yesterday, it is assumed the Greens would vote in its favour too.
Mr Turnbull has the power to stop all of this damaging, divisive and embarrassing rhetoric on the issues facing LGBTI Australians, that has sprung up since he became Prime Minister if he wants to.
Will he?
WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2016
