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 FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CHILD SAFETY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR UNIVERSITIES
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EQUALITY
MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH
TIME FOR TURNBULL TO ALLOW A FREE VOTE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
New reports showing more Australians support a parliamentary vote than a plebiscite on marriage equality show people want the Turnbull government to do its job.
The more Australians hear about Mr Turnbull's plebiscite, the less they like it, Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.
This should be a wake-up call for Malcolm Turnbull stop listening to George Christensen and Scott Morrison and start listening to the Australian people.
Malcolm Turnbull should agree to allowing a vote in the parliament on marriage equality
Labor wants marriage equality right now - and a free vote is the fastest, least expensive, least harmful way to achieve that.
Mr Turnbull should show some leadership by allowing Coalition MPs a free vote.
Australians clearly don't want the waste, expense, division and potential harm of this national, non-binding opinion poll, he said.
Every day more and more Australians are telling us they don't want this hurtful, hateful, wasteful plebiscite, Shadow Assistant Minister for Equality Terri Butler said.
Mr Turnbull and his Ministers are fond of saying we should have a plebiscite because that's what people want. Its clear today that Australians want a free vote.
Australians are telling us they want this issue dealt with quickly and cheaply. With a free vote in the parliament we can get marriage equality done before the cricket season starts - and without the $200 million price tag.
Its time for Mr Turnbull to grow a spine, stand up to the right wing of his party and help make marriage equality a reality by having a free vote.
WEDNESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2016
