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| Warren Entsch shoots down Dutton's postal plebiscite on marriage equality | Warren Entsch shoots down Dutton's postal plebiscite on marriage equality |
| (6 months later) | |
| Queensland LNP MP and same-sex marriage campaigner says a voluntary postal plebiscite would not be binding and would create ‘a legal black hole’ | |
| Gabrielle Chan | |
| Mon 24 Jul 2017 02.30 BST | |
| Last modified on Tue 12 Sep 2017 07.56 BST | |
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| Longtime marriage equality campaigner Warren Entsch has poured cold water on Peter Dutton’s call for a voluntary postal plebiscite on same-sex marriage. | Longtime marriage equality campaigner Warren Entsch has poured cold water on Peter Dutton’s call for a voluntary postal plebiscite on same-sex marriage. |
| While he welcomed the immigration minister’s engagement, the Queensland LNP MP said a postal plebiscite would not be binding and would create a legal black hole that could be challenged from all sides. | While he welcomed the immigration minister’s engagement, the Queensland LNP MP said a postal plebiscite would not be binding and would create a legal black hole that could be challenged from all sides. |
| “The fact that a plebiscite of any form, whether it be postal or otherwise, is not binding I think really puts the final nail in the coffin in relation to any concept of a plebiscite and that’s not going to change with a ... postal plebiscite,” Enstch said. | “The fact that a plebiscite of any form, whether it be postal or otherwise, is not binding I think really puts the final nail in the coffin in relation to any concept of a plebiscite and that’s not going to change with a ... postal plebiscite,” Enstch said. |
| He said he had considered postal plebiscites in the past as a cheaper method that would not require parliamentary approval, but “the reality is it is a legal black hole”. | He said he had considered postal plebiscites in the past as a cheaper method that would not require parliamentary approval, but “the reality is it is a legal black hole”. |
| The comments highlight the continued division in the Coalition over how to deal with the issue after the legislation for a plebiscite failed to pass the Senate. | The comments highlight the continued division in the Coalition over how to deal with the issue after the legislation for a plebiscite failed to pass the Senate. |
| The Liberal senator Dean Smith, who publicly opposed his party’s policy for a plebiscite, has been working on a private member’s bill to bring to parliament this year. | The Liberal senator Dean Smith, who publicly opposed his party’s policy for a plebiscite, has been working on a private member’s bill to bring to parliament this year. |
| But Malcolm Turnbull, a supporter of marriage equality, quickly scotched that suggestion when the issue blew up again following Christopher Pyne’s boasts at a moderate factional gathering that the question might be resolved sooner rather than later. | But Malcolm Turnbull, a supporter of marriage equality, quickly scotched that suggestion when the issue blew up again following Christopher Pyne’s boasts at a moderate factional gathering that the question might be resolved sooner rather than later. |
| Conservatives opposed to same-sex marriage have resisted any change to the plebiscite policy, effectively delaying any resolution. But Dutton, the Coalition’s most senior conservative, said he wanted the issue resolved in this term of parliament. | Conservatives opposed to same-sex marriage have resisted any change to the plebiscite policy, effectively delaying any resolution. But Dutton, the Coalition’s most senior conservative, said he wanted the issue resolved in this term of parliament. |
| Dutton gained support from Tony Abbott on Monday when the former prime minister said a postal plebiscite would be better than trying to “ram” a bill through parliament. | Dutton gained support from Tony Abbott on Monday when the former prime minister said a postal plebiscite would be better than trying to “ram” a bill through parliament. |
| “Trying to ram it through parliament would be a breach of faith with the public because we were crystal clear before the election there would be no change, no change in this without giving the people a say,” Abbott told 2GB. | “Trying to ram it through parliament would be a breach of faith with the public because we were crystal clear before the election there would be no change, no change in this without giving the people a say,” Abbott told 2GB. |
| “The problem with a postal ballot is how much real authority would it have? But certainly, given the unwillingness of the Labor party to accept people should have their say, this might be an alternative.” | “The problem with a postal ballot is how much real authority would it have? But certainly, given the unwillingness of the Labor party to accept people should have their say, this might be an alternative.” |
| Even without resolution, a number of conservatives opposed to change acknowledge that the Coalition will have to take a policy to the next election, which could inflame internal division closer to the poll. | Even without resolution, a number of conservatives opposed to change acknowledge that the Coalition will have to take a policy to the next election, which could inflame internal division closer to the poll. |
| Entsch said he appreciated Dutton was genuinely trying to find a way through the issue “that he feels comfortable with” but Dutton’s promise to make a postal plebiscite binding could only work for himself. | Entsch said he appreciated Dutton was genuinely trying to find a way through the issue “that he feels comfortable with” but Dutton’s promise to make a postal plebiscite binding could only work for himself. |
| “With all due respect, he can make it binding for himself,” Entsch said. “He may be able to encourage people within his own, within the party to make it binding for them. | “With all due respect, he can make it binding for himself,” Entsch said. “He may be able to encourage people within his own, within the party to make it binding for them. |
| “You would have to make huge changes to the concept of a plebiscite to be able to legislate to have it binding before you actually had to vote on it. | “You would have to make huge changes to the concept of a plebiscite to be able to legislate to have it binding before you actually had to vote on it. |
| “The reality is, it would be very, very divisive in so much as who would respect the outcome. There would be multiple challenges on both sides if they are not happy about it.” | “The reality is, it would be very, very divisive in so much as who would respect the outcome. There would be multiple challenges on both sides if they are not happy about it.” |
| Marriage equality | |
| Warren Entsch | |
| Coalition | |
| Peter Dutton | |
| Gay marriage | |
| LGBT rights | |
| news | |
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