With multiple bills put forward this week in Parliament to legislate for marriage equality in Australia, now is the time for a free vote on the issue.
“If a free vote were held today, Parliament would legalise same-sex marriage,” said Steph Cousins, Government Relations Manager with Amnesty International.
“If a free vote were held today, Parliament would legalise same-sex marriage.”
“That’s because the overwhelming majority of Parliament supports marriage equality – and so do the constituents they represent.”
“We have laws against racial discrimination, sex discrimination in the workplace and discrimination against people with different abilities. It’s high time Australia legislated to end marriage discrimination,” Steph Cousins said.
“Important matters of human rights and equality should not be determined by a popularity contest. To put issues of fundamental human rights to a popular vote suggests they are conditional.”
“Important matters of human rights and equality should not be determined by a popularity contest. To put issues of fundamental human rights to a popular vote suggests they are conditional.”
Amnesty International is urging all members of the Turnbull Government who support marriage equality to show genuine leadership during party room discussions on the Government’s proposed plebiscite bill on Tuesday.
“We don’t need a plebiscite. We need leadership,” Steph Cousins said.
“We don’t need a plebiscite. We need leadership.”
“If our leaders fail to legislate for marriage equality and resort to a plebiscite, at the very least that bill must be self-executing, and the government should not fund the campaign.”
