2016-06-22
Attorney General George Brandis must rule out giving public funds to the Australian Christian Lobby to facilitate a ‘no' campaign against the LGBTI community in any plebiscite on marriage equality, say the Greens, following the release of the ACL's election platform.
"The idea that the ACL could get their hands on public funds to run a campaign against marriage equality would send a shiver down the spine of LGBTI Australians and their families and friends. This is an organisation that has called for the suspension of anti-discrimination laws so they can run their hateful and divisive campaign. The Attorney General must rule out giving them access to public funds in any plebiscite campaign," Greens marriage equality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.
"The ACL has form when it comes to fanning the flames of homophobia and transphobia. I am scared about what they would do with public funds and what this would mean for the health and wellbeing of LGBTI Australians.
"The election platform the ACL has released this week is littered with homophobic and transphobic statements. It's yet another reminder of what will come with a plebiscite on marriage equality.
"We don't need a costly and divisive plebiscite, we just need a free vote in the parliament and the Greens are campaigning strongly for this during0020this election."
In May, Senator Simms moved a motion in the Senate recognising the ACL as a fringe organisation that doesn't represent the Christian community. The motion was opposed by the Liberals and the ALP.