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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/17/referendum-or-plebiscite-theres-a-simpler-way-for-the-public-to-have-their-say-on-marriage-equality
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| Referendum or plebiscite? There's a simpler way for the public to have their say on marriage equality | Referendum or plebiscite? There's a simpler way for the public to have their say on marriage equality |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| “It’ll be a waste of taxpayers’ money, costing millions.” | “It’ll be a waste of taxpayers’ money, costing millions.” |
| This was the damning indictment from the deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek, on the possibility of an Australian plebiscite on marriage equality. | This was the damning indictment from the deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek, on the possibility of an Australian plebiscite on marriage equality. |
| Related: Same-sex marriage: Tony Abbott keeps referendum option open | Related: Same-sex marriage: Tony Abbott keeps referendum option open |
| She captured the public’s many frustrations: dissatisfaction with political gridlock, the abdication of responsibility by politicians happy to claim lavish expenses but apparently not to act, and healthy impatience. | She captured the public’s many frustrations: dissatisfaction with political gridlock, the abdication of responsibility by politicians happy to claim lavish expenses but apparently not to act, and healthy impatience. |
| There’s also confusion over the options being floated by the Abbott government’s ministers: plebiscite versus referendum. (The ABC’s Antony Green wrote a handy explainer that lays out the differences in full.) | There’s also confusion over the options being floated by the Abbott government’s ministers: plebiscite versus referendum. (The ABC’s Antony Green wrote a handy explainer that lays out the differences in full.) |
| A referendum, costing approximately $120m, would be unnecessary, as no essential constitutional change is required to achieve marriage equality. And if one were held, Australian Marriage Equality fears it could actually “enshrine discrimination against same-sex couples in the Constitution”. | A referendum, costing approximately $120m, would be unnecessary, as no essential constitutional change is required to achieve marriage equality. And if one were held, Australian Marriage Equality fears it could actually “enshrine discrimination against same-sex couples in the Constitution”. |
| Constitutional experts say a referendum is unlikely to achieve marriage equality – they are notoriously hard to pass – requiring a majority of both individual votes and of states. And once the constitution is changed, it’s very difficult to go back. | Constitutional experts say a referendum is unlikely to achieve marriage equality – they are notoriously hard to pass – requiring a majority of both individual votes and of states. And once the constitution is changed, it’s very difficult to go back. |
| A plebiscite (likely to cost over $100m) would act simply as a voluntary ballot to canvass public opinion and encourage, not bind, politicians to act (or not as the case may be). | A plebiscite (likely to cost over $100m) would act simply as a voluntary ballot to canvass public opinion and encourage, not bind, politicians to act (or not as the case may be). |
| Wording of the plebiscite question is set by the prime minister and could persuade fence-sitters either way, so it’s a crucial and controversial part of the process. | Wording of the plebiscite question is set by the prime minister and could persuade fence-sitters either way, so it’s a crucial and controversial part of the process. |
| Changes to the standing Marriage Act wouldn’t be dependent on the plebiscite; Parliament would still have to legislate, using the plebiscite result to inform them. | Changes to the standing Marriage Act wouldn’t be dependent on the plebiscite; Parliament would still have to legislate, using the plebiscite result to inform them. |
| A plebiscite has opponents in both major parties. Plibersek says it’d be slow and expensive (a view shared by Australian Marriage Equality) and could drag out damaging prejudices into the public sphere. Malcolm Turnbull believes that it will make this a live (and possibly distracting) issue right up until the next election. | A plebiscite has opponents in both major parties. Plibersek says it’d be slow and expensive (a view shared by Australian Marriage Equality) and could drag out damaging prejudices into the public sphere. Malcolm Turnbull believes that it will make this a live (and possibly distracting) issue right up until the next election. |
| Not every issue can have a plebiscite and they are rare: Australia has had just three plebiscites, in 1916 and 1917 on military conscription in the First World War, and in 1977 on the national anthem. | Not every issue can have a plebiscite and they are rare: Australia has had just three plebiscites, in 1916 and 1917 on military conscription in the First World War, and in 1977 on the national anthem. |
| Ironically, the stagnant nature of political processes can transform the public’s appetite for change into apathy. So, placing power in the hands of the people – through a referendum or a plebiscite – can bring about the change people are keen to see. | Ironically, the stagnant nature of political processes can transform the public’s appetite for change into apathy. So, placing power in the hands of the people – through a referendum or a plebiscite – can bring about the change people are keen to see. |
| Whatever your view, it was hard not to feel uplifted by the triumph of people power in the successful Irish referendum. | Whatever your view, it was hard not to feel uplifted by the triumph of people power in the successful Irish referendum. |
| Whatever your view, it was hard not to feel uplifted by the triumph of people power in the successful Irish referendum on marriage equality. It showed up anti-marriage equality Catholic MPs as out of step. | Whatever your view, it was hard not to feel uplifted by the triumph of people power in the successful Irish referendum on marriage equality. It showed up anti-marriage equality Catholic MPs as out of step. |
| So far, so typical. Career politicians being criticised for being out of touch with the public’s needs and desires is a conversation happening not just in Australia, but worldwide. | So far, so typical. Career politicians being criticised for being out of touch with the public’s needs and desires is a conversation happening not just in Australia, but worldwide. |
| There’s another, simpler way - and it comes from harnessing the new technology that has reinvigorated the concept of people power. I head up the Australian division of the petition platform Change.org and, on a daily basis, see Australians start and win petitions that can grow quickly to hundreds of thousands of supporters. | |
| It’s the equivalent of having a series of triumphant plebiscites every week. Technology has enabled society to achieve social change on a bigger scale than the old creased-paper-and-biro petition circulating around a heated neighbourhood-watch meeting. | It’s the equivalent of having a series of triumphant plebiscites every week. Technology has enabled society to achieve social change on a bigger scale than the old creased-paper-and-biro petition circulating around a heated neighbourhood-watch meeting. |
| Technological innovation means this old tool can now affect major impactful change in a matter of hours - and at a fraction of the cost of any referendum or plebiscite. Change.org Australia surpassed 3 million users last month and, as an open platform, it allows any Australian to create the change they want to see themselves. | Technological innovation means this old tool can now affect major impactful change in a matter of hours - and at a fraction of the cost of any referendum or plebiscite. Change.org Australia surpassed 3 million users last month and, as an open platform, it allows any Australian to create the change they want to see themselves. |
| This could be left or right of the political divide. For example, the site hosts petitions both for and against marriage equality. It could be righting a wrong or improving something slack. | This could be left or right of the political divide. For example, the site hosts petitions both for and against marriage equality. It could be righting a wrong or improving something slack. |
| The issues that are campaigned on come from real people – not a political elite, or from the privileged and entitled who are used to getting their own way. Take Pam Brunswick, from Ferntree Gully, Victoria. After 40 years of service as an Ambo, she was sacked while on leave for urgent breast cancer treatment, merely because she’d been away from work as a casual for longer than three months. | The issues that are campaigned on come from real people – not a political elite, or from the privileged and entitled who are used to getting their own way. Take Pam Brunswick, from Ferntree Gully, Victoria. After 40 years of service as an Ambo, she was sacked while on leave for urgent breast cancer treatment, merely because she’d been away from work as a casual for longer than three months. |
| With over 61,000 signatures of support over seven days, Pam got her job back. It took the platform a week to do what the Fair Work Commission could’ve laboured over for months. | With over 61,000 signatures of support over seven days, Pam got her job back. It took the platform a week to do what the Fair Work Commission could’ve laboured over for months. |
| Last month, Rachel, 14, started a petition to put domestic violence education on the curriculum, just weeks after her mother’s suicide from the terrible domestic violence situation happening in her home. | Last month, Rachel, 14, started a petition to put domestic violence education on the curriculum, just weeks after her mother’s suicide from the terrible domestic violence situation happening in her home. |
| Related: Teetering Coalition will be seen as strong on marriage and climate, with time | Andrew Laming | Related: Teetering Coalition will be seen as strong on marriage and climate, with time | Andrew Laming |
| Rachel wanted other students to realise that what happened to her should never be considered normal. The NSW education minister agreed, and this will be rolled out from this year. | Rachel wanted other students to realise that what happened to her should never be considered normal. The NSW education minister agreed, and this will be rolled out from this year. |
| Then there’s Connor, 12, who is blind. Along with his mum, he successfully petitioned the Reserve Bank of Australia to put tactile markings on our new banknotes, so visually impaired people can be independent, and use notes without being ripped off. | Then there’s Connor, 12, who is blind. Along with his mum, he successfully petitioned the Reserve Bank of Australia to put tactile markings on our new banknotes, so visually impaired people can be independent, and use notes without being ripped off. |
| Politicians, big corporations and seemingly bureaucratic systems are forced to listen quickly to the ever-increasing volume from Australians who were previously disempowered, apolitical, cynical or tired of waiting. Mountains can be moved without costly plebiscites. | Politicians, big corporations and seemingly bureaucratic systems are forced to listen quickly to the ever-increasing volume from Australians who were previously disempowered, apolitical, cynical or tired of waiting. Mountains can be moved without costly plebiscites. |
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