Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek have given notice of their intent to Federal Parliament to introduce a private members bill to bring in marriage equality. Posting to Facebook, Shorten has said that this bill would allow the nation to skip “an expensive & divisive plebiscite“.
As we’ve pointed out in the past, the plebiscite is going to cost a ridiculous amount of money. At an estimated $162 million, if it happens, it will set us back to the tune of at least 6,000 brand new reasonably priced family cars.
Many members of parliament have indicated they would block a public vote on the issue of gay marriage. The Greens, Labor and The Xenophon Team have signalled that they think a parliamentary vote would be the best, fastest, most cost effective way of delivering marriage equality for all Australians.
In the lower house, however, the Coalition have a slight majority, and they won the last election on a plebiscite-platform. In recent years, similar bills have been presented to (and rejected from) Coalition controlled parliaments. However, this time around it might well be different.
Only three Coalition MPs would have to cross the floor for this bill to pass, and Coalition MPs do have something of a history of crossing the floor. Barnaby Joyce crossed the floor 19 time under Howard, and it didn’t seem to slow his ascent.
Here is a recent video of Peta Credlin (of all people) explaining to Andrew Bolt (of all people) how it could be done with relative ease:
Peta Credlin explains how Labor can get marriage equality through the parliament. https://t.co/rXoL90cfiS
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 29, 2016
Photo: Facebook, Wikipedia.
