Is The Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite Even Going To Happen?

The future of a plebiscite on same-sex marriage in Australia is at risk, with Labor, the Greens and several senators from the Nick Xenophon Team deeming it unnecessary.

As the ABC reports, without the backing of the Federal Opposition, the Government will not be able to pass a law to hold a national vote.

The question is, will an end to the plebiscite fast-track a parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage (which will need to occur after the plebiscite to make gay marriage legal anyway), or will it push the issue further down the agenda?

Over the weekend, rumblings emerged that the Government had been advised by the Australian Electoral Commission to wait until February 2017 to hold the plebiscite.

A likely draft of the question also arrived: “Do you approve of a law to permit people of the same sex to marry?”

It is believed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will announce an official timeline on the plebiscite at a partyroom meeting of the Coalition on September 13.

However, many have expressed concern over the plebiscite, which will come at an estimated cost of $160 million to taxpayers.

Prior to the election, it was revealed that MPs would not be bound to support the result of the plebiscite and could still vote against a change to the Marriage Act even if a hearty “yes” vote is returned by the public.

Advocacy groups are also worried about the detrimental effect such a vote – and any anti-gay campaigning that may precede it – would have on the LGBTQI community. (Research shows that the mental health of LGBTQI people suffers during debates on marriage equality.)

Those who oppose the plebiscite note that a change to the Marriage Act can occur with a simple parliamentary vote. In fact, it could do so when Parliament meets - for the first time since the election - next Tuesday.

That’s what Greens leader Richard Di Natale would like to see, telling press, “the plebiscite is pointless”, citing the "overwhelming" support for same-sex marriage among Australians.

We will likely have more clarity on the next steps towards same-sex marriage in Australia next week.

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