Date is set for same-sex marriage poll

AUSTRALIANS will either go to the polls in November to vote on same-sex marriage or a postal ballot will be sent out to Geelong region households instead.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced yesterday a plebiscite will be held on November 25, pending Senate approval.

If the Upper House knocks back the proposal, which is likely given the lack of crossbench support, then a postal plebiscite will be conducted from early November with ballots sent to more than 15 million voting age residents nationwide.

Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson said the polling booth plebiscite was her preferred option with the postal alternative only voluntary.

“A bill providing for the plebiscite will be presented to the Senate again this week and I am extremely hopeful it will be passed,” the Liberal MP said.

“If not, the Government will conduct a voluntary postal plebiscite for all Australians on the Commonwealth Electoral Roll, with final results known no later than November 15, 2017.

Ms Henderson said the Turnbull Government would enable the introduction of a private members Bill to amend the Marriage Act onto the floor of federal Parliament in the case of a majority yes vote under either plebiscite.

“Under such circumstances, and subject to the protection of religious freedoms, I will be supporting a change in the law to allow same sex couples to marry,” she said.

Corio MP Richard Marles said no one advocating a plebiscite on same-sex marriage wanted change to occur.

“It’s past time Malcolm Turnbull did the right thing by getting out of the way and letting the Parliament do its job and have a vote,” the Labor frontbencher said.

“It would be a legacy he could be proud of. This is something in our power to do. John Howard could make the current law on marriage with a simple vote in the parliament. We can make marriage equal just the same way.”

The Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will co-ordinate and manage the postal plebiscite if this week’s parliamentary vote on a polling booth option fails.

The Geelong Advertiser contacted the ABS yesterday to determine whether the Geelong office of the national organisation would have a role in the plebiscite with a spokesman referring enquiries to Finance Minister Mathius Cormann.

Mr Cormann’s office did not respond in time for deadline.