MEMBER for Mallee Andrew Broad has backed his government’s plan to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality, despite criticism from former High Court justice Michael Kirby.
Mr Kirby this week warned the plebiscite could unleash hate and division in the community and expressed concerns parliamentarians were palming off their responsibilities because it was a controversial issue.
“The fact that we haven’t had a plebiscite in 100 years is an indication that it’s just alien to our constitutional tradition,” Mr Kirby said.
But Mr Broad said the Australian people had already decided it wanted a plebiscite when it voted at the federal election in July.
“The election result was a win for the Coalition… so I suspect the Australian people want a plebiscite,” he said.
“They will have their opportunity to make their decision.”
Mr Kirby said the issue of same-sex marriage equality had not been given “a fair trot” in Parliament.
“We spend a lot of money and we have big campaigns and an awful lot of angst and we elect the politicians,” he said.
“(And this issue) hasn’t really been properly considered.”
For more on this story pick up a copy of Fridays Guardian (August 26, 2016)
