Call on Labor to declare its opposition to a marriage equality referendum after it voted for inquiry.
Madigan referendum model would not allow Australian people to vote for equality.
Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the defeat this afternoon of a push towards a marriage equality referendum.
The Government and the Greens today voted down a motion from anti-marriage equality DLP Senator, John Madigan, which would have set up an inquiry into a referendum on same-sex marriage.
Labor voted for the inquiry.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome said,
“We thank the Government and the Greens for voting against this inquiry, but we are disappointed Labor voted for it and call on the ALP to make it clear it opposes a marriage equality referendum.”
“Polls show two thirds of Australians support marriage equality, but I fear a referendum would become a platform for fear and hatred as we saw last week in Croatia.”
“Never before has there been a referendum on marriage law, including when same-sex marriages were banned in 2004, so it is a double standard to have a referendum on allowing same-sex marriage.”
“Fundamental human rights should not be decided by a show of hands.”
“There’s no point wasting parliament’s resources on an inquiry into a referendum that should and will never happen.”
Mr Croome said Mr Madigan’s motion for an inquiry was one-sided.
“Under the Madigan Model there is a one-sided choice between ruling out same-sex marriage completely with a constitutional amendment or simply allowing the Federal Government to legislate for marriage equality should it wish to.”
“The only thing worse than a referendum on marriage equality is a referendum on marriage equality that doesn’t actually allow the people to vote for equality.”
Last month the WA Liberal Party state conference voted against a marriage equality referendum.
The Madigan motion is included below.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 9 December 2013
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To move—That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 25 March 2014:
The form of a referendum on an amendment to the Constitution confirming that all powers pertaining to making laws for marriage rest with the Commonwealth and that those powers may only be used to confirm marriage to be the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life, with particular reference to:
1. (a) what question should be put to the electors;
2. (b) any effect of the alteration on the Parliament’s powers under section 51(xxi) of the Constitution;
3. (c) the level of state and territory support;
4. (d) the potential ramifications for states and territories if such an amendment was made; and
5. (e) any other matters that the committee considers may be relevant to a decision on whether to conduct a referendum, and the timing of any referendum.