The Australian Greens are urging everyone, particularly young people, to check that their enrolment details are up-to-date or to quickly get themselves on the roll so they have the choice of voting in a postal plebiscite on marriage equality if one goes ahead, said Australian Greens leader Dr Richard Di Natale and Greens LGBTI Spokesperson Sen. Janet Rice.
Christopher Pyne’s comments about marriage equality over the weekend show just how impatient many members of the Coalition are for marriage equality to be achieved now, say the Greens.
‘It’s staggering that Malcolm Turnbull is publicly standing by Tony Abbott’s plebiscite, meanwhile one of his senior ministers says equality will happen “sooner than everyone thinks,”’ said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens spokesperson for LGBTIQ issues.
‘Australian couples shouldn’t be forced to keep waiting for their love to be recognised,’ said Senator Rice.
Surf Coast Council shows great leadership on marriage equality
Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice today congratulated Victoria’s Surf Coast Shire for its courageous and principled support of marriage equality.
The Australian Greens have resolved to vote against any legislation enabling a plebiscite on marriage equality.
"No matter what the enabling legislation for a plebiscite looks like, the Greens will vote against it. We should never put questions of human rights to an opinion poll," said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.
"The easiest, simplest, quickest, most effective, least costly and least harmful way of ensuring equality in marriage is through a vote in the parliament, and we can do that next week should the Prime Minister decide to show some leadership.
The Greens are disappointed that the Australian Labor Party has sided with the Liberals to prevent a vote on marriage equality in the parliament today.
"Earlier today in a last ditch effort to derail senate reform, Labor tried to drag out debate on marriage equality. The Greens opposed this and instead moved to actually vote for marriage equality," Greens marriage equality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.
With Bill Shorten announcing that he will introduce his own marriage equality bill on Monday, and with existing bills from Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Senator David Leyonhjelm, it is now time for all parties wanting to end discrimination in marriage to work together on a common goal.
The Australian Greens are calling for a cross party meeting to be held on Monday 1 June to discuss strategies that will ensure that marriage equality is secured for all Australians.
The Greens have announced they will bring on a vote for Marriage Equality this year. The Party has set down dates in the Senate for debate to commence and a vote to be held on the Greens Senator Hanson-Young's private members bill currently before the Senate.
Debate on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill to commence on 18 June 2015