Bill Shorten Officially Intros Marriage Equality Bill As FU To Plebiscite

 

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, 

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. 

We will update this story as more information arises from Canberra.