It is a very weird time for Australian politics: not that long ago the Labor Party was voting against marriage equality bills, then they were voting for them, and now, seemingly, they’re voting against them again.
It seemed like we were going to get a slightly more socially progressive Liberal Party after Malcolm Turnbull got in and we got exactly that: a very, very, very slightly more socially progressive one. Instead of just legislating marriage equality (which by most accounts seems like it would pass if put to a free vote), we were given a compromise in the form of a pretty shitty plebiscite.
While the objections to the plebiscite are now pretty clearly laid out, it was initially baffling to see advocates campaigning against what could well be there only way of getting marriage equality in the next three years, and the Libs are hammering pretty hard on the “Labor are killing marriage equality” angle.
Waleed Aly doesn’t seem all that happy with their decision and didn’t pull many punches asking ol’ Billy S about they are doing the thing that they are doing:
“We can vote to make marriage equality a reality if Mr Turnbull will just allow a free vote of Liberal and National Party MPs. A majority of Australians and a majority of politicians are ready to vote for it in parliament.”
Asked whether they actually had a plan to make the government put it to a vote or if they were happy to let it sit for another 3 or 6 years:
“I think I’m optimistic Liberal and National Party MPs will just say ‘Isn’t it time to get on with it?’.”
So uh, no, then. They go on to ask whether the harm they’re trying to minimise by nixing the plebiscite can really be completely avoided, this one he actually answers pretty satisfactorily:
“That’s a good point. My view is that where there was going to be an official “yes” case and an official “no” case, funded with taxpayer money, it would legitimise views which are not currently legitimised in the community.“When we had the referendum in 1967 on giving Aborigines citizenship, recognising them as citizens, the “no” case didn’t receive any taxpayer money.“Once Malcolm Turnbull said $7.5 million for the “yes” case and $7.5 million for the “no” case in taxpayer money, it gave equal weight to all the critics of marriage equality and, to be honest, i think that would have taken this nation backwards.”
Well bloody said, Bill. Watch the whole thing here:
We ask @billshortenmp what the plan is for #MarriageEquality now that the #plebiscite is off the table #TheProjectTV https://t.co/2xR2DmOZRZ
— #TheProjectTV (@theprojecttv) October 11, 2016
Photo and source: Channel 10.
