Lyle Shelton backs postal plebiscite on marriage equality
Image: Lyle Shelton. (Picture: David Alexander; Star Observer)
LYLE Shelton of the Australian Christian Lobby has said he supports a postal plebiscite for marriage equality.
鈥淯nder the right conditions, a voluntary plebiscite has merit and is consistent with the government鈥檚 election promise to allow all Australians a say on whether or not marriage is redefined,鈥� said Shelton.
鈥淪hould the government explore the issue, the ACL would look forward to being part of stakeholder consultations about the form and substance of a voluntary postal plebiscite.
鈥淚n the meantime, the Australian people expected all government members to honour their promise to the Australian people to ensure no change to the Marriage Act without the endorsement of the people.鈥�
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is under pressure to accept the proposed postal plebiscite, has reported.
The Queensland branch of the Liberal-National Party has passed a motion supporting the plebiscite.
The motion was put forward by Nationals Senator Barry O鈥橲ullivan, who called the proposed free vote in parliament 鈥渁 recipe for disaster鈥�.
O鈥橲ullivan last week told colleagues who are pushing for a parliamentary vote to 鈥渟hut the flip up鈥� about marriage equality.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter whether it鈥檚 the behaviour of selfish individuals who want to just be disruptive or whether it鈥檚 individuals pursuing specific issues in a manner that鈥檚 in conflict with the policies we took to the election,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 saying to my colleagues, you need to shut the flip up.鈥�
Alex Greenwich from the Equality Campaign highlighted that the Senate had already made it crystal clear that the only way to deliver marriage equality was through a vote in parliament.
“Any attempt to hold a non-binding and voluntary postal plebiscite will be seen as a pointless political trick to override role of the parliament and delay the settled will of the Australian people,” he said.
Just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome said a postal plebiscite would be biased against marriage equality.
鈥淎 postal vote will favour the 鈥榥o鈥� case because younger voters, who are more likely to support marriage equality, are less likely to return their voluntary postal ballots,鈥� said Croome.
鈥淭he only legitimate path forward is a vote in parliament where all members are able to vote according to their conscience.鈥�
Latest show a majority of Australians support marriage equality, with 72 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds in favour of same-sex marriage.
98 percent of the Maltese population adhere to Roman Catholicism, making the Islands one of the most Catholic countries in the world. 66 out of 67 politicians voted in favour of marriage equality. Lyle and all his other cohorts should back off! Parliamentary vote only!
Hang about, I smell a rat!. If Shelton approves of a postal ballot, he’s got it rigged —— *WRONG WAY TURN BACK*
Lyle, just remember to not send in more fraudulent votes than there are people in Australia – It’s a dead giveaway
Nah, nah Libs you don’t get to promise a ballot-style plebiscite, fail to get it through the Senate, insist there won’t be a free vote because “that’s not our election commitment” and then propose a postal ballot BECAUSE THAT WASN’T YOUR ELECTION COMMITMENT EITHER, DICKHEADS.