2016-08-23
Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has called on the Premier to urge his Federal Liberal colleagues to abandon plans to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality.
“I’ve written to Premier Barnett to thank him for comments reported in the media this week which reaffirmed what the Greens have been saying all along: a plebiscite on marriage equality is likely to become divisive within the community.
“I share in Mr Barnett’s belief that the Federal Parliament should make the decision and I’ve asked him to take action by expressing his wishes directly to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“I’ve also asked Premier Barnett to share his views with all WA Federal Liberal MPs and request that they vote against the plebiscite.
“The Federal Parliament could pass marriage equality into law next Tuesday, but instead the Liberals want to run a costly and divisive public vote, the results of which Liberal MPs have declared they intend to ignore when they eventually vote on a Marriage Equality Bill.
“The plebiscite is pointless and costly. We know there’s enough support for marriage equality in the community and in the Federal Parliament to pass legislation without it.
“Abandoning the plebiscite is the only way to quash a potentially very damaging public debate.”
Related campaign: Marriage EqualityRelated portfolios: Sexuality and Gender Identity