AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Media Release
Monday April 29th 2013
- hate campaign feared
- push for parliament to act is gaining momentum
- no time left to develop question and pass referendum law
- politicians shouldn’t handball difficult issues
Marriage equality campaigners have rejected a proposal for a referendum on the issue from New England MP, Tony Windsor, saying it is unnecessary and potentially divisive.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
“Given a majority of Australians support this reform, we believe a referendum would succeed, but we don’t believe Australia should go down that path.”
“We fear cashed-up opponents of marriage equality would exploit a referendum to polarise the electorate and demonise gay and lesbian people in a way that will impact badly, particularly on young gay people.”
“We are also concerned that it is not clear whether this would be a non-binding plebiscite on the Marriage Act or a fully-fledged referendum on that section of the constitution dealing with marriage, both of which raise serious problems.”
“Politicians are elected and paid to make laws, not abdicate responsibility by handballing to voters when it gets too hard.”
The call for a referendum comes as Opposition leader, Tony Abbott, has opened the door to a Coalition conscience vote and more MPs than ever have declared their support for reform.
“The campaign for parliament to amend the Marriage Act has more momentum than ever before, making a referendum an unnecessary, divisive, dangerous distraction.”
“I can understand why some supporters of marriage equality might see a referendum as a circuit breaker, but I urge them to reflect on the potential problems and pitfalls.”
Mr Croome agreed with Mr Windsor that politicians are currently out-of-step with the community, but said a referendum is not the solution.
“If Mr Windsor genuinely believes his colleagues are out-of-step then he has a duty to persuade them to support reform instead of giving up on them.”
“I don’t accept Mr Windsor’s comparison with a referendum on local government because that referendum has been years in the making and there’s simply not enough time before the federal election to develop the same-sex marriage question and pass the relevant legislation through parliament.”
“New Zealand achieved this reform through a mature parliamentary debate and it would be an indictment on Australia if our politicians shirked their responsibilities and asked the electorate to make the decision instead.”
For today’s reports on the proposal for a referendum click here and here.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.