MPs go postal in same sex bid

TWO of Malcolm Turnbull’s senior conservative ministers, Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison are supporting a move to hold a postal plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

Costings reveal the postal vote would only cost taxpayers $39 million, instead of $160 million and there would also be no public funding for “yes” and “no” campaigns, saving an additional $15 million.

The Bulletin can reveal the full plan being discussed by Liberal Party MPs behind the scenes, who are trying to reach an agreement on the way forward on the same-sex marriage issue.

The postal plebiscite idea backed by Mr Dutton, the Immigration Minister, and Treasurer Morrison is in keeping with Liberal Party policy to hold a plebiscite on the issue.

Under the proposal, a motion would be passed by the parliamentary party room when adopting the process change to ensure the party would be bound by the outcome.

Having the plebiscite ballot done by post would also stop conflict outside voting booths.

MPs said it would address concerns about a publiclyfunded hate campaign.

It was revealed on Monday that conservative ministers had lent support to a move towards a postal vote on samesex marriage.

The ministers can now be named as Mr Dutton and Mr Morrison. Neither denied that they backed the move yesterday. Mr Dutton’s spokesman said: “The Minister has made it clear he supports the party’s policy of a plebiscite on samesex marriage and does not support a vote being taken in the Parliament without a plebiscite first being held.”

Mr Morrison’s spokeswoman said: “The Treasurer is focused on preparing the Budget and is committed to the policy of a plebiscite as taken to the last election.”

Advice to the parliament from Australian Electoral Commission chief legal officer Paul Pirani confirmed a plebiscite could be held without the parliament passing legislation if a postal vote methodology is used.

However, there are moves to try to get Independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon on board so that the postal plebiscite would be compulsory, to ensure the outcome is final.