Non- binding postal ballot labelled a $ 122m waste of money Gay vows plan slammed
A GAY Townsville man has slammed a move by the Federal Government to spend $ 122 million on a non- binding postal ballot if the Senate refuses to approve a compulsory plebiscite on same- sex marriage.
Terry Stewart said as a taxpayer he believed a postal vote was an unnecessary use of government funds.
“I believe it is a financial hurdle to something that seems inevitable,” he said.
“I could understand and even argue justification if we were a pioneering nation paving the way for the world to follow and we were using this as a means to justify or explain a nation’s decision.
“However, at this time our nation’s latent decision for equality among a plethora of nations who have made those pioneering steps, I feel it is our delay that needs justification.”
Mr Stewart said he had met a partner with whom he would consider marriage and it had become an important issue in his life.
“I would like to see every man and woman or individual have the same legal rights and opportunities as one another,” he said. “The idea that anyone is denied such rights is an abomination.
“It’s time. It’s late, but it will happen so why stand in the way of inevitability?”
Member for Herbert Cathy O’Toole supports the campaign to allow same- sex couples to legally marry in Australia.
She said the issue should have been dealt with by a vote in Parliament.
The Australian Labor Party member called the postal vote a “stalling tactic” by the LNPled Government and said it was disappointing.
“Not only is it a waste of time and energy to put it up, it will be challenged in court and that’s another unnecessary expense,” she said. “This is personal for me because I have a daughter in this very situation.
“( Same- sex marriage) is a human right.
“Why would we want to have second- class citizens in our community when it comes to marriage? It’s ridiculous.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he expected the public would support marriage equality in the so- called plebiscite, and that he would personally campaign for a “yes” vote.
It would be only the fourth time in Australian history, and first time in 43 years, that the government puts a legally nonbinding question to the electorate.
The Liberal Party held a crisis meeting late on Monday to resolve infighting and rejected a push to allow politicians to decide the issue now.
The Government yesterday endorsed the party decision to ask the Senate this week to reconsider allowing the plebiscite, which would be held on November 25.
Voting would be compulsory and failure to vote would be punishable by a fine, although a voluntary vote would be held if the Senate again rejects the measure.
If most Australians want gay marriage, the Parliament would vote on legislation before the last two- week session of Parliament of the year ends on December 7.