The Prime Minister says his controversial proposal to hold a same-sex marriage plebiscite is not dead, despite almost certain defeat in Parliament.
The Labor Party unanimously decided to vote against the plebiscite and its enabling legislation at a meeting in Parliament today, citing the potential abuse to gay families and the price tag of almost $200 million in turning away from the plebiscite.
The Opposition is now calling for a free vote on the floor of Parliament.
"The easiest way is the way which this Parliament has done for a hundred years: legislate, debate it,” Labor leader Bill Shorten said.
But Prime Minister Turnbull is not giving up on his plebiscite.
“We urge the Senate, all the members of the Senate, including the Labor Party to support that bill and give the people their say on the eleventh of February,” he told reporters in Canberra.
The Government is still advocating a national vote similar to a referendum, which it says will immediately legalise same-sex marriage if the plebiscite is successful.
Lifelines and good faith negotiations were offered to Bill Shorten both in public and private, Malcolm Turnbull said.
“We have said to him … if there are … features of our plebiscite proposal that you feel should be changed in order to support it, let us know,” Malcolm Turnbull said.
“He has decided he doesn’t want a plebiscite on any terms.”
The Coalition has the numbers in the House of Representatives to pass its plebiscite legislation.
However, with Labor and a number of crossbench Senators vowing to block the bill in the Senate, it is almost certain to fail.
“We are asking the Senate to do its job and support it,” Prime Minister Turnbull said.
Labor says it is ready to immediately take part in a free vote which would legalise same-sex marriage.
"The easiest way is the way which this Parliament has done for a hundred years: legislate, debate it."
With Labor now opposed to a plebiscite and the government refusing to back away from it, there is now a political stalemate over how to achieve changes to the Marriage Act.
