Leader of the Labor party Bill Shorten has today introduced a new marriage equality bill in Parliament.
The ‘Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2016‘ is a private member bill by Shorten, aiming to bypass the ‘expensive and divisive‘ plebiscite currently being pushed forward by the Liberal party, and instead legalise same-sex marriage in a parliamentary vote.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introducing legislation for marriage equality into Parliament pic.twitter.com/pUF8p81wys
— ellinghausen (@ellinghausen) September 12, 2016
Shorten presented the bill in the House of Representatives this morning, saying,
“Marriage is about love, not about gender. It’s up to us to summon the courage and show the decency to make this happen.
It’s up to us to prove the Parliament can lead and keep faith with the people. It’s up to us to make marriage equality a reality.”
Watch below:
.@BillShortenMP introduces a marriage equality bill to the parliament #auspol https://t.co/eMl58Sx3ip
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 12, 2016
Labor Deputy Leader and Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek seconded the motion, posting this image to Twitter:
We don’t need an expensive + divisive plebiscite, we could have #marriageequality this week. pic.twitter.com/l5ZGVng47l
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) September 12, 2016
Shorten spoke of the severe harm the plebiscite will cause to the LGBTQIA community – particularly amongst young gay and queer people who need support, not to be surrounded by an aggressive and bigoted ‘No’ campaign:
“The plebiscite is not a real vote, it is a straw poll. But it will cause real harm and real waste.” @billshortenmp #auspol
— Labor Herald (@LaborHerald) September 12, 2016
“Putting the question of marriage equality to a national vote risks providing a platform for prejudice” @billshortenmp #auspol
— Labor Herald (@LaborHerald) September 12, 2016
“There is real risk that LGBTI Australians will be subjected to a well-organised well-funded campaign of vitriol & prejudice” @billshortenmp
— Labor Herald (@LaborHerald) September 12, 2016
“Every piece of expert advice tells us young Australians who are gay are more likely to contemplate suicide” @billshortenmp #auspol
— Labor Herald (@LaborHerald) September 12, 2016
“A ‘No’ campaign would be an emotional torment for gay teenagers” @billshortenmp #auspol
— Labor Herald (@LaborHerald) September 12, 2016
“if one child commits suicide over the plebiscite, then that is one too many.” @billshortenmp #auspol
— Labor Herald (@LaborHerald) September 12, 2016
He also reiterated the legislating is the job of Parliament; as well as exposing young LGBTQIA Aussies to damaging hate speech and bullying, it’s also a waste of tax payer dollars and fundamental failure of a governing body.
Shorten also requested that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull support the bill, due to his previous (but recently quiet) support for marriage equality.
.@billshortenmp asks PM @TurnbullMalcolm to support his marriage equality bill, or move his own which Labor will support #auspol
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 12, 2016
“This is an issue you said you cared about” – Bill Shorten goes Malcolm Turnbull over whether to legislate / plebiscite #auspol
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) September 12, 2016
Just after the Labor Bill was brought into Parliament, another cross-party marriage equality bill was presented by Deputy Leader of the Greens Adam Bandt, co-sponsored by independents Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan.
“It’s time we end discrimination…once and for all,” Bandt told the house. “If a free vote were held in this room now, a bill would pass.”
We will update this story as more information arises from Canberra.
Source: Twitter.
Photo: Mark Metcalfe / Getty.
