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Members of the central Victorian LGBTI community have welcomed Labor’s decision to block a proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite.
Jakob Quilligan, organiser of queer community group Friends Alike Bendigo – Central Victoria said national vote would never have been a positive outcome for the LGBTI community.
“We’ve already seen what lifting the lid on a plebiscite results in – the kind of language and comments it attracts,” he said.
The Labor caucus decided unanimously on Tuesday to vote against the plebiscite, making it unlikely to receive the support it needs to become a reality.
“The government has failed to explain how this bill will achieve marriage equality,” Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said.
“The plebiscite is not legally binding on MPs.”
She said Labor was unconvinced the plebiscite was anything more than a $200 million opinion poll, whereas a free vote of parliament would likely see marriage equality legalised.
“The Leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, could allow the parliament to have a vote on the issue,” Ms Chesters said.
“The government is using their numbers to block that happening.
“Labor will continue to call on the government to have a vote. Just allow the parliament to do its job.”
Mr Quilligan welcomed the push for the free vote.
“I hope that there can be enough support garnered to actually do that,” he said.
Labor’s decision has sparked dissent within the Coalition, with Member for Mallee Andrew Broad, of the Nationals, quoted by Fairfax Media as having said his support for the government was conditional on it honouring its promise of a plebiscite.
The Coalition is reportedly adamant a plebiscite is the only way of reforming the Marriage Act in this term of Parliament.
“If it does get put on the back-burner, I think they’d be surprised at the amount of passion that will surface from the community,” Mr Quilligan said.
“I would hope Ms Chesters would take the opportunity to liaise with her LGBTI community in the City of Greater Bendigo and get those messages told.”
Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten also voiced concerns for the harm a plebiscite could cause LGBTI people, on a day that happened to be National Coming Out Day and headspace day.