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| Q&A: Magda Szubanski rounds on Turnbull over same-sex marriage plebiscite | Q&A: Magda Szubanski rounds on Turnbull over same-sex marriage plebiscite |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The comedian and author Magda Szubanski has criticised Malcolm Turnbull for “caving in” to the ultra-conservative MP George Christensen over the same-sex marriage plebiscite. | The comedian and author Magda Szubanski has criticised Malcolm Turnbull for “caving in” to the ultra-conservative MP George Christensen over the same-sex marriage plebiscite. |
| Speaking on the ABC’s Q&A panel on Monday night, Szubanski led a passionate discussion about the plebiscite, saying the campaign leading up to it risked damaging the self-esteem and mental health of LGBTQI people. | Speaking on the ABC’s Q&A panel on Monday night, Szubanski led a passionate discussion about the plebiscite, saying the campaign leading up to it risked damaging the self-esteem and mental health of LGBTQI people. |
| Christensen has insisted there will be no free vote in parliament if Labor blocks the plebiscite legislation. . But Szubanski questioned his influence. | Christensen has insisted there will be no free vote in parliament if Labor blocks the plebiscite legislation. . But Szubanski questioned his influence. |
| “George Christensen’s primary vote was 38,000 people,” she said. | “George Christensen’s primary vote was 38,000 people,” she said. |
| Families asked us not to debate their value, says @Tony_Burke. @SenatorNash & @JimmyBarnes discuss rights #QandA https://t.co/oV1fUvae87 | |
| “His two-party-preferred was 48,000. There are 23 million people in this country, 72% of whom are in favour of marriage equality. So what gives George Christensen this amount of power and why is Malcolm Turnbull caving in to him? What is going on in a democracy that by far the majority view is not represented?” | “His two-party-preferred was 48,000. There are 23 million people in this country, 72% of whom are in favour of marriage equality. So what gives George Christensen this amount of power and why is Malcolm Turnbull caving in to him? What is going on in a democracy that by far the majority view is not represented?” |
| Szubanski challenged the Nationals MP Fiona Nash, also on the panel, in one of the most powerful exchanges of the evening. Nash, who believes in the “traditional” view of marriage, said it was up to the media to keep the debate leading up to the plebiscite “responsible” and non-divisive. | Szubanski challenged the Nationals MP Fiona Nash, also on the panel, in one of the most powerful exchanges of the evening. Nash, who believes in the “traditional” view of marriage, said it was up to the media to keep the debate leading up to the plebiscite “responsible” and non-divisive. |
| Szubanski, who struggled with suicidal thoughts before coming out as gay, asked her: “Do you think I’m equal to you?”. Nash replied: “Of course I do.” | Szubanski, who struggled with suicidal thoughts before coming out as gay, asked her: “Do you think I’m equal to you?”. Nash replied: “Of course I do.” |
| “If I was your daughter,” Szubanski continued, “and I’m gay, would you think that I should have the right to be married?” | “If I was your daughter,” Szubanski continued, “and I’m gay, would you think that I should have the right to be married?” |
| Nash said she had been “asked this question a lot over the last 12 months”. | Nash said she had been “asked this question a lot over the last 12 months”. |
| “My response was that my view is still the traditional view of marriage,” Nash said. “I love my children regardless ... I completely respect your view and your desire to see that as equality.” | “My response was that my view is still the traditional view of marriage,” Nash said. “I love my children regardless ... I completely respect your view and your desire to see that as equality.” |
| Szubanski shot back: “But you won’t give me my rights. Thanks for nothing.” | Szubanski shot back: “But you won’t give me my rights. Thanks for nothing.” |
| Colleagues happy to be bound, says @SenatorNash. @MagdaSzubanski & @JimmyBarnes wants money better spent #QandA https://t.co/551FJsl4dU | Colleagues happy to be bound, says @SenatorNash. @MagdaSzubanski & @JimmyBarnes wants money better spent #QandA https://t.co/551FJsl4dU |
| The singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes, whose granddaughter is Szubanski’s goddaughter, told Nash it was “naive” to believe the debate leading up to a plebiscite would not get “nasty and ugly”. | The singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes, whose granddaughter is Szubanski’s goddaughter, told Nash it was “naive” to believe the debate leading up to a plebiscite would not get “nasty and ugly”. |
| “If someone is nasty about your family, about your way of life, about your being ... it’s very difficult to sit and take, [it’s] not easy for an adult, never mind a child to take.” | “If someone is nasty about your family, about your way of life, about your being ... it’s very difficult to sit and take, [it’s] not easy for an adult, never mind a child to take.” |
| The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, last week indicated that Labor might block the same-sex marriage plebsicite bill, though has stopped short of definitively saying he would tell the Labor caucus to do so. | The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, last week indicated that Labor might block the same-sex marriage plebsicite bill, though has stopped short of definitively saying he would tell the Labor caucus to do so. |
| But panellist and Labor frontbencher Tony Burke told the Q&A host, Tony Jones, that “we will oppose it, my instincts are telling me”. | But panellist and Labor frontbencher Tony Burke told the Q&A host, Tony Jones, that “we will oppose it, my instincts are telling me”. |
| He said he did not understand why, out of all the issues before parliament, the government had chosen to take that of marriage equality to a plebsicite. | He said he did not understand why, out of all the issues before parliament, the government had chosen to take that of marriage equality to a plebsicite. |
| “Why this, and no other issue?,” he said. “I can’t get my head around that.” | “Why this, and no other issue?,” he said. “I can’t get my head around that.” |
| It's about time we give power back to the people, we should add euthanasia & recognition, says @JacquiLambie #QandA https://t.co/pfZFieXiSW | It's about time we give power back to the people, we should add euthanasia & recognition, says @JacquiLambie #QandA https://t.co/pfZFieXiSW |
| The independent senator Jacqui Lambie took a different view, saying if she had her way she would take a range of issues to a plebiscite at the same time to get “more bang for your buck”, including euthanasia for the terminally ill and Indigenous reconciliation. | The independent senator Jacqui Lambie took a different view, saying if she had her way she would take a range of issues to a plebiscite at the same time to get “more bang for your buck”, including euthanasia for the terminally ill and Indigenous reconciliation. |
| “It’s about time we gave the power back to the people,” she said. | “It’s about time we gave the power back to the people,” she said. |
| “I say, you know what, let’s do it, take it in 12 months’ time, let’s take the three [issues] to next September and make it a referendum. Make it count and ... start doing this more in the future. Give you people the say.” | “I say, you know what, let’s do it, take it in 12 months’ time, let’s take the three [issues] to next September and make it a referendum. Make it count and ... start doing this more in the future. Give you people the say.” |
| Szubanski pointed out that if every piece of legislation were to be decided by the people, Lambie would be out of a job. | Szubanski pointed out that if every piece of legislation were to be decided by the people, Lambie would be out of a job. |