Advocates fear marriage equality referendum

Advocates have insisted on taking the vote on marriage equality to Australia’s parliament, despite calls for a referendum earlier this week.

Jim Bourke reports.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has dismissed Tony Windsor’s call for a referendum on marriage equality and will present his Amendment Bill to the lower house later this year//IT WOULD BE A DISTRACTION FROM THE MAIN GAME, WHICH IS TO PASS LAWS, AS ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE DONE. THE OTHER COUNTRIES WHO’VE INTRODUCED MARRIAGE EQUALITY HAVE DONE IT THROUGH THEIR PARLIAMENT//Whilst a successful referendum would eliminate any challenges against new laws, Conveyor of Australian Marriage Equality, Rodney Croome says the risk of a referendum isn’t worthwhile//IF A REFERENDUM WAS LOST, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO POSSIBILITY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH TO ACT IN THIS AREA AND ARGUABLY NO POSSIBILITY FOR THE STATES TO DO IT EITHER; AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGES HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIA FOR MANY YEARS TO COME WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY ZERO.//Mr Windsor has said that a referendum would be the best way to resolve social issues. Jim Bourke, City Journal, Melbourne.