Same sex vote sides square off

THE Tasmanian pro-marriage equality side has launched its advertising campaign as the same-sex marriage debate ramps up.

With the Coalition for Marriage to launch its national campaign tonight in Sydney, the Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality group has unveiled the advertisement that will air on televisions across the state next week.

It will feature Bell Bay Aluminium general manager Ray Mostogl, Penguin Baptist Church Reverend Ian Carmichael, Hobart’s Elsa Schwan and Wynyard dairy farmers Andy and Matt Jackman.

Veteran Tasmanian marriage equality advocate and spokesman for Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality Rodney Croome said the campaign would have a distinctly Tasmanian feel.

“We wanted to feature everyday people talking directly to their fellow Tasmanians to show that there is support for marriage equality across Tasmanian society and that there are very good, simple reasons to vote Yes,” he said.

Rev Carmichael, who has been in the church since 1985, said he was lending his voice to the “Yes” push because he wanted to see equality in Australia.

Mrs Jackman said saying yes to marriage equality would ensure Tasmania would become “a much more inclusive environment for the next generation”.

Mr Mostogl, who is the head of a 500-strong workforce, said in any other circum- stance, the existing situation was discriminatory. “At the end of the day, it’s actually illegal to discriminate in the workplace for race, religion, gender or sexuality,” he said on radio yesterday.

“So I find it somewhat ironic that we currently have legislation that allows discrimination in the community. Whereas in the workplace, I would be hauled in front of the anti-discrimination tribunal and rightly so.”

The Coalition for Marriage has already launched a “No” campaign ad that claimed marriage equality would allow boys to wear dresses and compel students to role play samesex relationships in schools.

Tonight, it will launch its national campaign in Sydney.

It will then host state campaign events in South Australia, Queensland, Western

Australia and Victoria next week. Tasmania is not on the list for upcoming events, although there were four events run last week by the state presence of the Coalition for Marriage.

Tasmanian spokesman Ben Smith said the group was pleased at the attendance of its events.

“[It’s mainly] about helping people understand the consequences going forward if it is changed,” he said. “This is a fast-moving debate and as things emerge we will respond to them in our campaign.”

Mr Smith ruled out any specific Tasmanian-based advertising, saying that was the role of the national body.

Yesterday national spokesman Lyle Shelton said people would not know any details of the legislation to change the Marriage Act before they cast their votes in the postal vote.

“The Prime Minister [Malcolm Turnbull] has said he does not know the detail of the Bill,” Mr Shelton said.

“He has said that Australians will not know what protections the legislation will or will not contain.”

All eligible Australians are set to receive either their postal forms or online codes to take part in the survey by September 25.