Australian parliament gets bill to set up gay marriage vote

Malcolm Turnbull says the plebiscite is the best option to resolve a complex issue.

Mr Turnbull insisted in his interview that everything was going well.

But both sides agreed they had negotiated in good faith and reached a way forward, after Treasurer Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann spent days in discussions with Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Shadow Finance Minister Jim Chalmers.

Mr Turnbull cautioned against demonising the Muslim community, saying they were the most valuable tool for intelligence agencies in fighting terrorism.

But the plebiscite is virtually certain to be defeated in the Senate, where the government does not have a majority.

The Australian parliament received a bill Wednesday to set up gay marriage vote in the country early next year.

Turnbull is well-known for his support for gay marriage but committed to the plebiscite, costing some Aus$170 million (US$128.2 million).

Thus, Parliament will have to decide the issue on legalizing the-same-sex marriage without the divisive public debate.

The Australian government is expected to name February 11 next year as the date for the plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

The whole reason a plebiscite was being discussed in the first place is because Liberal conservatives, like Cory Bernardi, really don’t want marriage equality.

Ms McKenzie had previously said her parliamentary vote may not abide by the plebiscite’s result.

The Turnbull Government has introduced legislation forcing broadcasters to air advertisements for both the yes and no campaigns on marriage equality, with an $1800 fine if they don’t.

In a ploy not used since Kim Beazley was Labor leader a decade ago, the opposition embarrassed the government further by asking itself a question.

Bridget is a member of the conservative-leaning party The Nationals and has been outspoken regarding her opposition to marriage equality, despite the family ties.

When asked straight up if he still likes being prime minister, he said “I love it”.

The two marriage equality bills were seconded.

“Many LGBTI people welcome a leader who is sensitive to the hurt and harm a plebiscite will cause us”, Faulkner said.

“This will be the 22nd marriage equality bill in Australia and we still haven’t got (LGBT) marriage and at a certain point we have to think, what are we doing wrong here?” With the Greens already announcing they won’t support the bill, the pressure is on Bill Shorten and the ALP to announce whether they will ensure its safe passage through parliament.

Today (September 16), the Prime Minister said that although the same-sex marriage plebiscite was an election promise, it could still be negotiated alongside a number of financial matters.