A mooted postal vote plebiscite on same-sex marriage has been stamped a “delaying” tactic by advocates for Dubbo’s gay community.
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Nicholas Steepe and Kris Stevens are again calling on the federal government to allow its parliamentarians a conscience vote.
“Politicians are elected to make decisions and to govern and that’s what they need to do,” Ms Stevens said.
Fairfax Media has reported of discord among prominent conservatives within the Coalition on the mooted postal plebiscite.
They are arguing as West Australian Senator and Liberal Party member Dean Smith drafts a private members bill to legalise same-sex marriage.
Late in 2016 the federal government’s election promise of a plebiscite on the issue was thwarted when Labor confirmed it would block the proposal in the Senate.
A postal plebiscite is reported to be a cheaper option, voluntary and not dependent on the passing of legislation, but its “authority” is being questioned.
The Australian Christian Lobby’s managing director Lyle Shelton wants the idea explored.
"Under the right conditions, a voluntary plebiscite has merit and is consistent with the government's election promise to allow all Australians a say on whether or not marriage is redefined," he said.
Long-term marriage equality campaigner Rodney Croome has rejected the postal plebiscite.
"A postal vote will favour the no case because younger voters, who are more likely to support marriage equality, are less likely to return their voluntary postal ballots," he said.
On Tuesday Mr Steepe said plebiscites would generate comment that would be negative and damaging to Australia’s LGBTIQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning, Asexual) community.
“We’ve already discussed as a society and in government what a plebiscite would do,” he said.
“I think the postal vote is just another way of delaying it.
The government should just get on with it and have a conscience vote.”
Mr Steepe said he was frustrated at the ideas for “determining whether I should be able to marry someone I love”.
Ms Stevens said the postal vote would “only be an opinion poll” and politicians “are still going to have to vote.
“They are just delaying it,” she said. “ I don’t know what they are afraid of.”