United in show of support

SAME-SEX marriage supporters have waved the rainbow flag in Hobart in support of the High Court challenge to the Federal Government’s proposed postal plebiscite.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group board member Michael Dempsey said the group was concerned that the debate in the lead-up to the postal vote would enable hate to spread throughout the community.

“We’re concerned that the parliament has no oversight of this, the Government are just doing what they want,” he said.

Mr Dempsey needed to be a process.

“We need to make sure there is no ambiguity in the question and that what comes said there transparent back is representative of the community,” Mr Dempsey said.

He said there was a chance that youth would be disenfranchised because many were not on the electoral roll.

“We’re also concerned that the votes returned could be as low as 20 per cent like it is in other non-compulsory and postal elections such as local government,” he said.

The Mercury asked readers of our Facebook page yesterday to have their say on the debate and the poll showed strong support for same-sex marriage.

Of the 3129 people who had voted by 10.30pm, 63 per cent (1963) supported same-sex marriage.

A total of 1166 people (37 per cent) opposed it. Editorial: Page 16

Polly: Page 17

We need to make sure there is no ambiguity in the question and that what comes back is representative of the community

MICHAEL DEMPSEY