Released 07/09/2017
This afternoon, the High Court ruled that the Federal Government can continue with its planned non-binding voluntary postal survey on Marriage Equality.
Just because this plan has been found legally valid, that doesn’t mean it is morally so. It’s not fair that LGBTIQ Australians will be forced to endure a nasty debate about their lives, their families and the validity of their relationships. It is cruel and represents a new low in Australian politics.
This postal survey is completely unnecessary. Changing the marriage law requires the Federal Parliament. It does not require a non-binding voluntary postal survey.
We know this process is already having a negative effect on LGBTIQ Canberrans, and we haven’t even received the survey forms yet.
That’s why the ACT Government has committed to provide extra support to mental health and counselling services for LGBTIQ people over the next few months. It’s also why we’ve rolled out rainbow flags and buses to support LGBTIQ Canberrans. The ACT Government will support vulnerable Canberrans during this incredibly difficult and confronting time.
The ACT Government has a long history of inclusiveness and equality. We were the first Australian Government to remove many of the legal discriminations against LGBTIQ people and to recognise same-sex relationships. The ACT Government legalised Marriage Equality in 2013, only to have the High Court strike it down and rule marriage is a Federal issue.
We’ve now been waiting for the Federal Government to deal with this issue for four years. The right-wing faction of the Federal Government has continually slowed this reform. The non-binding voluntary postal survey is simply another tactic they are using to delay.
As bad as the approach is, it is now destined to go ahead. Postal surveys will start arriving in letterboxes next week.
As such, it’s time for everybody who believes in fairness and equality to stand up together and make our voices heard.
All members of the ACT Government will campaign strongly for equality over the coming months, as I know many Canberrans will.
It will be a campaign that aims to unite Canberra, not to divide it. It will be a campaign about the lives, hopes and loves of real people. It will be a campaign of conversations, of human stories and of inclusion. Canberrans have long since made up their minds that they support marriage equality so let's take the last small step together.
To quote a former Prime Minister, ‘it’s time’. Let’s get this done.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
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