CROOME VOTE CALL

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

TASMANIAN marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome will urge the Senate to again reject a plebiscite on the issue of same sex marriage.

He urged Liberal marriage equality supporters to cross the floor and vote the reform through.

Mr Croome expressed disappointment after a dramatic meeting of Liberal MPs and senators yesterday resolved to push the Senate to approve the plebiscite which the Government took to the last election.

Seven members spoke in favour of a free vote on the issue and 27 voted to stick with the election commitment for a plebiscite.

“I am disappointed that far fewer Liberals spoke up for a free vote than actually support it,” Mr Croome said.

“But those seven members are sufficient to get marriage equality through the parliament if they cross the floor.”

Meanwhile it emerged last night that Australians would be given a postal vote on samesex marriage if the Senate again blocked a plebiscite. A plebiscite is expected to cost $160 million.

But if it fails 16 million voters will be given their say through a voluntary postal vote to be run by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Advocates for both sides of the issue last night warned of a long and arduous campaign over the matter, with pro-gay marriage groups threatening a High Court challenge to stop a national vote.

Liberal MPs debated the issue for two hours behind closed doors in Canberra last night before emerging with an overwhelming majority to stick to its election commitment. Mr Croome, the 2015 Tasmanian Australian of the Year, said he would be part of a High Court action if a post plebiscite was pursued.

“We will be urging the Senate to continue to block the plebiscite and if the Government then moves to a postal vote we will move to strike it down in the High Court,” he said.

“Today’s decision has let down the millions of Australians who support marriage equality and will only inspire us to push harder for this vital reform.”

The party room meeting, which had threatened to undermine the authority of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, took two hours to reach its decision.

Just seven gay marriage advocates — including Victorians Tim Wilson and Jason Wood — spoke in favour of ditching the current policy in favour of giving colleagues a conscience vote in parliament.

But almost 30 MPs argued the government should not break its election promise and should again attempt to give Australians a say.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the room it was his Cabinet’s view the Government should continue with its policy of a plebiscite and he did not want to be “a Prime Minister who broke promises”.

Former PM Tony Abbott, viewed by many colleagues as deliberately attempting to undermine the government, argued that only a Senate-endorsed plebiscite should be an option.

Senior government minister Mathias Cormann said the Government was “absolutely committed to keep faith with the Australian people”.