The Federal Government is still clinging hard to the idea of a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, and today, Attorney-General George Brandis has officially said that they will hold one by year’s end, if the LNP is returned to power after the next election.
Speaking after Malcolm Turnbull‘s appearance at Mardi Gras, the first by a sitting Prime Minister, Brandis indicated that if the public vote yes on the issue, then the government will do the same.
He told Sky News the reasons behind holding a plebiscite rather than a parliamentary vote, saying:
“I’ve said in the party room when this matter was discussed last August that it ought this was a conscience matter and I haven’t changed my mind. [But] I think it would be perfectly understandable why a member of Parliament representing a conserve electorate and having conservative views themselves might choose to vote no. And I don’t have a problem with that.”
Some, such as Greens leader Richard Di Natale, have raised concerns over a plebiscite, saying that the months of campaigning in the lead-up will be a field day for “groups who spread bigotry.”
Labor leader Bill Shorten currently maintains that, if returned to power, his party will will make a “long overdue change” and legalise same-sex marriage within their first 100 days in office.
Source: ABC News.
Photo: Brendon Thorne / Getty.
