THE HON. BILL SHORTEN MP
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS AND ABORIGINAL
AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS
MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG
THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
ACTING SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
TERRI BUTLER MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR PREVENTING FAMILY
VIOLENCE
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR UNIVERSITIES
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EQUALITY
MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH
NOW IT’S TIME FOR A FREE VOTE, MR TURNBULL
Last night the Senate voted down Malcolm Turnbull's $200 million wasteful, hurtful, divisive plebiscite on marriage equality.
When it came down to it, Malcolm Turnbull was too weak to kill off this terrible policy when he inherited it from former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Labor makes no apologies for helping to block the plebiscite. The LGBTI community didn't want it, and the Australian community didn't either.
It was a waste of valuable taxpayer funds, and it was never about the achievement of marriage equality.
It was Tony Abbott's policy adopted by Malcolm Turnbull - that was designing to kill marriage equality.
Predictably, the government is now trying to argue that marriage equality is off the agenda for this term of Parliament. They are dreaming.
The prospect of a hateful, divisive plebiscite has mobilised the LGBTI community, and all supporters of equality. They are not going away. Labor will continue to campaign for a free parliamentary vote.
We can have marriage equality right now, if only Mr Turnbull was strong enough to stand up for the principles he supposedly believes in.
The only thing standing in the way of marriage equality is Malcolm Turnbull and the right-wing extremists in his party who are pulling his strings.
Labor will not give up the fight to achieve marriage equality in Australia.
TUESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2016
