2016/13: Should Australia hold a plebiscite regarding same-sex marriage?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right:On September 26, 2016, the ABC ran a news report on the Government's failed negotiations with the Labor Opposition regarding the same-sex marriage plebiscite. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said
'I have no doubt that if the plebiscite is carried as I believe that it will be, that you will see an overwhelming majority of MPs and senators voting for it'
Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull
'Why are we spending $160 million on an opinion poll that the Government is going to ignore?'
Deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek
The issue at a glance
On September 14, 2016, the Coalition Government introduced a Bill into the Parliament for a proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
If the Bill is passed, the question that will be put to the electorate is: Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?
Cabinet has agreed that if the Bill passes Parliament, the plebiscite will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017.
At this point it appears the Bill will pass the lower house but is unlikely to pass the Senate. The Greens and Nick Xenophon's party have both indicated they will not support and it further seems unlikely to be supported by the Labor Party. These three groups combined opposition means that the Bill will not pass the upper house.
The electorate's attitude toward the plebiscite seems to be shifting. Prior to the July 2016 election some 69 percent of voters favoured a plebiscite. Support now appears to be running at less than 40 percent.
From the point of view of those in favour of gay marriage, the whole question has become quite vexed. While many may be opposed to a plebiscite and would prefer a direct, free vote within the Parliament, there is also a large group that believes a plebiscite may be the only means of achieving legalised same-sex marriage in the immediate future.
There is concern that without a plebiscite a same-sex marriage Bill will not be put before the Parliament during this Government's current term or perhaps later. There is also concern that popular support for same-sex marriage may be being dissipated through political squabbling over the plebiscite.