Podcast: The Purpose of Plebiscite
16 August 2016 at 11:46 am
In this episode of Not for Podcast, Pro Bono Australia investigates whether the question of same-sex marriage should be put to the people via a plebiscite or go straight to Parliament.
The Abbott government first committed to a plebiscite on same-sex marriage a year ago, and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was firm on the issue in his election campaign.
It’s now been pushed back to next year, and many groups are determined to take it off the table all together.
It’s going to be expensive, with estimated costs of $160 million, and many people fear it could be divisive, leading to a hate campaign.
Another sticking point is the non-binding result, meaning politicians will be free to disregard public opinion and stick to their own.
Yet, many feel all Australians should be given a chance to have their say.
In Purpose of Plebiscite, academics, politicians and advocates debate the issue, while a mental health expert explains the impact on the LGBTI community.
Download the transcript here.
Featured in this episode:
- Dr Ryan Goss senior law lecturer at the Australian National University
- Labor Senator Lisa Singh
- Liberal Senator Eric Abetz
- Australian Marriage Equality national spokesperson Dr Shirleene Robinson
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays national spokesperson Shelley Argent
- Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton
- Q-Life national clinical director Ross Jacobs
Produced by Ellie Cooper and Wendy Williams.
The big danger for the Government (and eventually for all political parties) comes if they hold a plebiscite that favours SSM and some of their MP’s decide to vote against SSM in parliament because their electorate voted no. Political Scientists call it an Imperative Mandate when an elected representative votes according to the wishes of their constituents. Nothing would stop MP’s in future voting down the Government’s legislation because that’s what they think their constituents want them to do.