For example, does the government have a responsibility to include 16 and 17 year olds in this debate? It is not an election or referendum where the Parliament has decided 18 is the voting age. The fact is that 16 and 17 year olds can decide they are gay or straight or bi or trans if they feel inside themselves that they are. 16 and 17 year olds can also marry under the current law. On what basis are they excluded from this decision? Can the government make an arbitrary decision like this, especially given that this whole exercise is unprecedented and potentially sets down how future issues may be debated.

What about the Australians who will be disenfranchised for not having a postal address? Who has decided that’s fair? That affects a massive number of Australians overseas.

I would hope that the High Court can consider issues like this and they’re not just deemed to be questions of political policy which are judged by the electorate at the next election.