SENATOR LOUISE PRATT
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFERENCES COMMITTEE
LABOR SENDS MARRIAGE EQUALITY POSTAL SURVEY TO SENATE INQUIRY
Labor Senator Louise Pratt has lodged a motion to refer the Government’s ridiculous plan to conduct a non-binding postal survey on marriage equality to the Senate References Committee for Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The inquiry will consider key issues with the survey, including:
- How information will be collected and reported
- How matters such as advertising, fraud and private will be regulated, if at all
- The possible disenfranchisement of voters
- Protections against offensive, inappropriate, misleading or intimidating material and behaviour
The Senate will consider the motion next week.
Senator Jenny McAllister said “We already knew the postal survey was expensive and divisive, and it now seems that it will have no integrity, no protection from misleading and deceptive material, and will not be protected against ballot fraud, bribery and interference.”
Senator Louise Pratt said today “We cannot allow this postal survey to be used an excuse for the spread of ugly and hateful attacks on LGBTI people, their families and their children.”
“It’s only day one, and already we have seen Bronwyn Bishop arguing that marriage equality is a slippery slope, conflating the issue with bestiality, we have seen attacks on our children, attacks on the safe schools program and attacks on transgender people.”
“Labor supports marriage equality and we want it legislated through a free vote in the parliament. But if this $122 million postal survey has to go ahead, we will strongly campaign for a Yes vote.”
“Labor will use this committee to scrutinise Malcolm Turnbull’s expensive and inaccurate survey. He will be responsible for all of its problems.”
Labor is very concerned about the legitimacy of this unnecessary, non-binding opinion poll, and the impact it will have on the LGBTI community.
Marriage equality is important – and it is important that we get there the right way.
