Australia’s Leaders Pushing Citizens to OK Same-Sex Marriage

“Why do we elect officials if not to make decisions that reflect our beliefs?”

“f***ing exhausted of having our relationships treated like a political football when there are so many other important issues the country needs to address and resolve”, added Jahshan. This decision is a no-brainer, ‘ he said.

“In the five years we worked on this case, decision after decision has affirmed that principle in the field of marriage and divorce, and now the worldwide human rights system is slowly moving closer to that view too”.

When asked which he would vote in a public vote, the prime minister said he believes that anyone has the right to marry, and that he would encourage others to vote that way at the polls.

The Coalition will submit a bill for a compulsory plebiscite this week and if it is once again rejected by the Senate a voluntary postal vote will be held instead.

“While I personally support same-sex marriage, I agreed with the Coalition’s policy of a national plebiscite to allow all Australians a chance to have their say on the issue”, Mr Chester told The Express.

The Turnbull government will resubmit its plebiscite plan to parliament this week.

Terri Butler, one of the opposition Labor Party’s key advocates on same-sex marriage, said it was clear that a majority of the members of Parliament supported legalization and would vote yes if given the chance.

Malcolm Turnbull intends to tip $122 million into a voluntary postal vote on same-sex marriage run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics if a fresh plebiscite push fails.

The conservative Liberal Party-led coalition was narrowly re-elected in July 2016 with a promise to let people decide whether Australia should recognise same-sex marriage through a popular vote.

Liberal Party Senator Dean Smith, who is gay himself, explained this week how a tragic incident convinced him to campaign for same-sex marriage.

‘I’m not so much focused on the process.

“I’ve got no doubt at all that it’s highly unlikely that will get through”, he said. And whatever it takes to get that outcome, I’m prepared to give it 100 per cent, ‘ he told the ABC’s 7.30 program.

It is highly likely the plebiscite legislation will be voted down again as there are not enough numbers in the Senate in favour of it. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and his party colleagues may accept a postal vote. Voting on the plebiscite would be compulsory and failure to vote would be punishable by a fine.

Terri Butler, a federal member of parliament leading the opposition’s marriage equality campaign, vowed not to boycott plans for a postal plebiscite despite concerns that Australians might not participate in a non-binding vote.

“Advice we received from [Ron Merkel QC] last week indicated the government can not act without specific legislation and a specific budgetary appropriation”, said just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome in a statement.