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.
Attorney-General George Brandis implored Labor to support the plebiscite bill in Parliament this morning before the Opposition meeting.
“Stop playing politics with gay peoples’ lives,” Mr Brandis told reporters.
“There is only one path forward for this because that is the position we took to the election and we intend to keep our promise.”
Over the last few weeks, Labor has grown increasingly distant from the plebiscite.
“It is our job as legislators to reflect the views of our communities,” Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said.
“That’s our day job; that’s what we’re paid to do and the notion we can’t do it on this one issue is ridiculous,” she said.
Draft laws allow conscientious objections to SSM
On Monday evening, the Government released its draft exposure laws to change Australia’s Marriage Act.
The proposed changes would:
- change the definition of marriage from between 'a man and a woman' to 'between two people'
- recognise foreign same-sex marriages in Australia
- allow for religious ministers, organisations and celebrants to refuse to take part in or solemnise same-sex marriages if it goes against their beliefs
“That, to me, seems a reasonable balance between the desire to see marriage equality while, on the other hand, respecting religious and conscientious objections,” Mr Brandis said.
Labor introduced its own marriage equality bill into Parliament last month alongside a separate bill from the Greens and crossbenchers.
With AAP.
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