John Oliver: postal survey is biggest waste of Australian money “since every Baz Luhrmann movie”
US comedian and TV host John Oliver has launched a scathingly funny attack on Australia鈥檚 marriage equality postal survey.
Appearing on his show Last Week Tonight, he called the 鈥渋nexplicable鈥� and 鈥渨eird鈥� survey the biggest waste of Australian money 鈥渟ince every Baz Luhrmann movie鈥�.
鈥淸The survey] is an odd thing to do, because polls already exist, showing around two thirds of Australians support it,鈥� he said.
The comedian called the campaign 鈥渢ruly toxic鈥� and showed clips of some of the more 鈥渞idiculous鈥� comments made by No campaigners.
鈥淥ne activist seemed unusually obsessed with terminology,鈥� he observed, showing video of a Marriage Alliance lobbyist calling for same-sex marriage to be called 鈥榞arriage鈥�.
Oliver conceded that this would absolutely be the correct terminology for the union of two men named Gary.
He went on to mention the high-profile physical altercations that have featured in the marriage equality debate, including the infamous on Alan Joyce, and Tony Abbott鈥檚 by a Tasmanian anarchist.
鈥淚 am in no way condoning Tony Abbott being attacked. What I will say is, thinking to yourself, 鈥楾here鈥檚 Tony Abbott, I鈥檓 going to headbutt him鈥� is entirely natural,鈥� Oliver quipped.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an automatic human response.鈥�
Oliver summarised the marriage equality survey as 鈥渁 dispiriting, ultimately pointless process鈥�.
https://youtu.be/HjnTfoSEY38
