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Public figures call on government to hold free vote on same-sex marriage Public figures call on government to hold free vote on same-sex marriage
(about 3 hours later)
A group of 114 straight allies of the LGBTI community have signed a statement calling for the government to ditch the same-sex marriage plebiscite and hold a free vote on marriage equality. A group of 114 allies of the LGBTI community have signed a statement calling for the government to ditch the same-sex marriage plebiscite and hold a free vote on marriage equality.
The petition has been signed by authors Peter Carey and Mike Carlton, the Sydney lord mayor, Clover Moore, actors Noeline Brown and Noni Hazlehurst, the Australian Council of Trade Unions president, Ged Kearney, comedians Corinne Grant and Catherine Deveny, former Labor senator and Olympian Nova Peris and former president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria Philip Bliss.The petition has been signed by authors Peter Carey and Mike Carlton, the Sydney lord mayor, Clover Moore, actors Noeline Brown and Noni Hazlehurst, the Australian Council of Trade Unions president, Ged Kearney, comedians Corinne Grant and Catherine Deveny, former Labor senator and Olympian Nova Peris and former president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria Philip Bliss.
“We believe a plebiscite on marriage equality is unnecessary, and will be costly and divisive,” the statement read in part. “We are particularly concerned about the harm to vulnerable LGBTI people.”“We believe a plebiscite on marriage equality is unnecessary, and will be costly and divisive,” the statement read in part. “We are particularly concerned about the harm to vulnerable LGBTI people.”
It will be sent by marriage equality advocacy group Just Equal to parliamentarians as the Senate begins debate of the same-sex marriage plebiscite on Monday.It will be sent by marriage equality advocacy group Just Equal to parliamentarians as the Senate begins debate of the same-sex marriage plebiscite on Monday.
The plebiscite bill is expected to be defeated, with Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch against it. The Coalition’s Dean Smith will abstain, but is prepared to vote against it if he has the casting vote.The plebiscite bill is expected to be defeated, with Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch against it. The Coalition’s Dean Smith will abstain, but is prepared to vote against it if he has the casting vote.
Just Equal spokesman Ivan Hinton-Teoh said: “It’s great to see so many straight allies of LGBTI people getting behind the campaign to stop a marriage equality plebiscite and have a free vote instead. Just Equal spokesman Ivan Hinton-Teoh said: “It’s great to see so many allies of LGBTI people getting behind the campaign to stop a marriage equality plebiscite and have a free vote instead.
“We could never have done this without the help of the allies of LGBTI people, who want equal marriage achieved by an equal process, not a divisive, damaging and unnecessary public vote.”“We could never have done this without the help of the allies of LGBTI people, who want equal marriage achieved by an equal process, not a divisive, damaging and unnecessary public vote.”
If the bill is defeated as expected, attention will turn to whether the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will advocate or allow a free vote on same-sex marriage, which he has not ruled out, or whether the government will maintain its policy for a plebiscite, as conservatives in the Coalition have demanded.If the bill is defeated as expected, attention will turn to whether the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will advocate or allow a free vote on same-sex marriage, which he has not ruled out, or whether the government will maintain its policy for a plebiscite, as conservatives in the Coalition have demanded.
There are two same-sex marriage bills currently in the lower house: one from Labor and one from a cross-party group.There are two same-sex marriage bills currently in the lower house: one from Labor and one from a cross-party group.
Labor’s equality spokeswoman, Terri Butler, told Guardian Australia Labor would join the cross-party bill if a Coalition MP joined. But Coalition MPs have steadfastly maintained there is no “plan B” if the plebiscite bill is defeated and said marriage equality could be delayed for years.Labor’s equality spokeswoman, Terri Butler, told Guardian Australia Labor would join the cross-party bill if a Coalition MP joined. But Coalition MPs have steadfastly maintained there is no “plan B” if the plebiscite bill is defeated and said marriage equality could be delayed for years.
Labor, the Greens and others in favour of same-sex marriage may also introduce a Senate bill to increase pressure for a free vote.Labor, the Greens and others in favour of same-sex marriage may also introduce a Senate bill to increase pressure for a free vote.
On Thursday, Turnbull said the bill was up for debate next week because it was “very, very time-sensitive legislation” that had to pass before a plebiscite on 11 February.On Thursday, Turnbull said the bill was up for debate next week because it was “very, very time-sensitive legislation” that had to pass before a plebiscite on 11 February.
That contrasted with his approach to the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill, about which Turnbull said the government would not commit to a vote unless it could win.That contrasted with his approach to the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill, about which Turnbull said the government would not commit to a vote unless it could win.
On Friday, he recognised the plebiscite bill was unlikely to pass on current numbers and called on Labor to support it.On Friday, he recognised the plebiscite bill was unlikely to pass on current numbers and called on Labor to support it.
The Australian Marriage Equality co-chair, Alex Greenwich, told Guardian Australia: “The plebiscite needs to be resolved and voted down as matter of urgency and we hope that can happen on Monday or Tuesday this week at the latest.”The Australian Marriage Equality co-chair, Alex Greenwich, told Guardian Australia: “The plebiscite needs to be resolved and voted down as matter of urgency and we hope that can happen on Monday or Tuesday this week at the latest.”
Greenwich said AME would campaign to demonstrate the “strong and diverse support for marriage equality” and why it was important for Australians through its Equality Campaign. He said once the plebiscite was defeated attention would shift from the process to the substance of marriage equality, which a majority of Australians support.Greenwich said AME would campaign to demonstrate the “strong and diverse support for marriage equality” and why it was important for Australians through its Equality Campaign. He said once the plebiscite was defeated attention would shift from the process to the substance of marriage equality, which a majority of Australians support.
Carlton said he signed Just Equal’s statement because same-sex marriage was “a simple matter of liberty and equality”.Carlton said he signed Just Equal’s statement because same-sex marriage was “a simple matter of liberty and equality”.
“Neither church nor state has business keeping same-sex couples from marrying,” he said. “These people are entitled to cement their union in any way they see fit, just as heterosexual couples can.”“Neither church nor state has business keeping same-sex couples from marrying,” he said. “These people are entitled to cement their union in any way they see fit, just as heterosexual couples can.”
Carlton said it was “time to end discrimination” and “time [parliament] did its job”. He described the plebiscite as a “rort to avoid a catastrophic split in the Liberal party and the Coalition”.Carlton said it was “time to end discrimination” and “time [parliament] did its job”. He described the plebiscite as a “rort to avoid a catastrophic split in the Liberal party and the Coalition”.
Liberal MP Andrew Laming said the Coalition was committed to the plebiscite as the way to decide whether to legalise same-sex marriage.Liberal MP Andrew Laming said the Coalition was committed to the plebiscite as the way to decide whether to legalise same-sex marriage.
“I don’t see alternative paths if it goes down,” he said. “I don’t expect there to be an alternative if [it does] – it was our election commitment.”“I don’t see alternative paths if it goes down,” he said. “I don’t expect there to be an alternative if [it does] – it was our election commitment.”