Conservative senator Eric Abetz has labelled a study estimating a plebiscite on same-sex marriage would cost more than $500 million "skewed".
A study estimating a plebiscite on same-sex marriage would cost more than $500 million is "skewed", conservative senator Eric Abetz claims.
The Liberal senator criticised the research by accounting firm PwC Australia, which found a compulsory vote on marriage equality would cost the Australian economy $525 million.
It estimates that a plebiscite not held on the same day as a federal election would cost the taxpayer $158 million to organise, $66 million for the community to fund the for and against campaigns and $281 million in lost productivity as people take time out to vote.
There would also be least $20 million in costs associated with the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of Australians.
Senator Abetz, who is strongly opposed to same-sex marriage, said calculating lost productivity when people would be voting was "bizarre".
He also noted the study did not take into account the costs on the other side of the debate, to people who will feel depressed about change.
"I think this is a very skewed study," he told ABC radio.
"It does show and indicate that this was a study in inverted commas with an outcome that was sought by those doing it."
