Australia’s gay marriage plebiscite has ignited a brawl between Geelong’s opposing federal MPs.
Liberal Sarah Henderson demanded that Labor’s Richard Marles support the plebiscite if he was “genuine” about supporting same-sex marriage.
Mr Marles hit back saying that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s capitulation to the “right wing” made supporting a plebiscite difficult for Labor.
The Turnbull government this week set 11 February as the date for the public vote on support for gay marriage.
The compulsory poll will ask: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”
The Government will allocate $7.5 million in public funding each toward the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns.
Ms Henderson, the MP for Corangamite, said the Turnbull Government was aware that many Australians had “strong personal views about same-sex marriage”.
“That is why it was decided last year that this issue should be resolved through a plebiscite, which gives every Australian the opportunity to have his or her say.”
Ms Henderson said she would support in parliament legislation to allow gay marriage if the yes vote won.
“Our government made an election commitment to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage. We are now delivering on that commitment.
“This approach was previously supported by Labor.
“I remain concerned that Labor’s attempts to derail the plebiscite will put this issue on the backburner.
“If parliamentarians such as Corio MP Richard Marles are genuine about their support for same-sex marriage they will support the legislation required to conduct the plebiscite.”
Mr Marles focused his attack on the Prime Minister.
“Malcolm Turnbull’s expensive, divisive and damaging plebiscite is going from bad to worse,” the Corio MP said.
“After a year as Prime Minister Mr Turnbull now has one objective: appeasing the right wing.
“The plebiscite has been designed by those who don’t want marriage equality; it is designed to fail.”
Mr Marles said Australians were “incredibly disappointed” in Mr Turnbull’s lack of leadership.
“Mr Turnbull’s capitulation to his right wing (is) making it harder for Labor to support (a plebiscite) every day but (we) will wait for final legislation and take it through our normal processes.
“We can make marriage equality a reality right now. All Mr Turnbull needs to do is show some leadership and hold a free vote in the parliament.
“Malcolm Turnbull is standing in the way of making marriage equality a reality right now because he isn’t strong enough to stand up to the right wing radicals running his party.”
