Marriage Equality Delayed: The Gov Has Decided to Try Another Plebiscite Instead

Remember the plebiscite? It’s back.

The Liberal Party, following weeks (okay, years) of debate over its same-sex marriage policy, has decided to give the plebiscite another run.

Earlier today, five Liberal backbenchers pushed for WA senator Dean Smith’s Private Member’s Bill, which proposed to change the Marriage Act in Parliament and make same-sex marriage legal in Australia once and for all.

No fuss, no muss. The day was even greeted with a slightly-on-the-nose sign for success.

Just a hint of a rainbow over Parliament House ahead of the Liberal Party meeting on same-sex marriage pic.twitter.com/neNKgSoH1E

— andrew meares (@mearesy) August 7, 2017

However, after a two-hour party room meeting today, the Liberals decided to stick with their original policy: to seek Australia’s opinion on marriage equality with a non-binding vote. (‘Non-binding’, because the result of the plebiscite would not automatically change the law; Parliament would still need to vote on it, and some members have said they would not honour a ‘yes’ result for same-sex marriage anyway.)

This is the same proposal that was voted down in the Senate late last year, to the cheers of marriage equality advocates who feared the effect of the 'no' campaign’s rhetoric on young Australians.

Wondering what a plebiscite even is? Read all about it.

If the Senate once again votes against a plebiscite—an outcome that seems very likely, given their protests against the $160 million price tag that’ll come with it—the Government is expected to conduct a postal vote on the subject. So, basically, a plebiscite by post. How 21st century.

Advocacy groups have already pledged to challenge a voluntary postal vote in the courts. A postal vote has previously been criticised for alienating young people.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, an advocate for the postal vote, once criticsed the method back in 1997 (while spruiking an Australian republic), saying it “flies in the face of Australian democratic values”.

More details will become available over the coming days and weeks, likely once the plebiscite is officially given the boot. (That is, unless the Liberals can convince Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and/or Derryn Hinch to suddenly support it.)

However, the party’s preferred process is to eventually hold a free vote in Parliament by the end of the year. A ‘free vote’, in theory, means members won’t be compelled to match their party’s collective stance. But does it also mean they’ll be bound by the results of Australia’s voice?

As reported, party room told this is Cabinet's position:
1. Try again for plebiscite
2. If that fails, go postal
3. Free vote by end of year

— Jane Norman (@janeenorman) August 7, 2017

Stay tuned.

Photo: Greyboots (iStock)