Brace Yourselves: Date Set, Funding Squared Away For This Bloody Plebiscite

 

After Bill Shorten spoke in Parliament yesterday about the severe harm a plebiscite could have on Australia‘s LGBTQIA community, the Federal Cabinet have now agreed on a date for the nation-wide vote on same-sex marriage. 

The cabinet have signed off on plans to have the plebiscite on February 11 next year.

They have also agreed to give funding to both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns – each side of the debate will allegedly receive public funds of $7.5 million each. 

The cabinet also agreed on the phrasing of the question. Australian voters will give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to, “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”

The proposal will be put to Coalition MPs in a party room meeting in Canberra today, and pressure will be increased on the Labor party to declare if they’re gonna support the legislation needed to go ahead with the plebiscite. 

Yesterday in Parliament, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull alluded that public funding for the campaigns would happen, but argued it would be “utterly fair”:

The fate of the plebiscite is pretty much in Shorten‘s hands, who yesterday denounced it and spoke passionately about the risk of LGBTQIA suicide due to a hateful ‘no’ campaign:

“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