Brandis signals electorate-level reporting on same sex vote
Attorney-General George Brandis has confirmed the outcome of the same sex marriage plebiscite will be presented by electorate, enabling conservative opponents to oppose the change in a subsequent parliamentary vote to meet the will of their constituents.
Speaking on Sunday Senator Brandis said he would be taking a proposal in coming weeks to Cabinet on how to conduct the vote and that he remains determined to have it held before the end of the year and "certainly" by the early part of 2017.
"We want to have a plebiscite on same-sex marriage as soon as practicable," he said.
Attorney-General George Brandis: "We want to have a plebiscite on same-sex marriage as soon as practicable." Paul Braven
The Coalition is consulting with the Australian Electoral Commission on practicalities of holding the vote, which Senator Brandis said wouldn't require a "double majority" of both states and voters to succeed, as with a referendum.
However, he added; "I would envisage that there will be electorate by electorate reporting."
The government insists this is consistent with the way the commission presented the nation's last referendum result in 1999.
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus accused Senator Brandis of seeking to undermine the push for marriage equality in order to please the Coalition's right wing.
"This subterfuge allows conservative MPs opposed to same-sex marriage to defy a national 'yes' vote and vote against same-sex marriage, and justify that behaviour by pointing to the vote in their electorate," Mr Dreyfus said.
"There is absolutely no reason for a national plebiscite to be counted electorate-by-electorate."
"It raises the spectre of a majority vote 'yes' on marriage equality and a failed vote in parliament. This would subvert the clear will of the majority of Australians and devastate the LGBTI community. It must not happen."
In terms of how the vote should be presented to voters, Senator Brandis said it was his strong view that the question "be as simple and self-explanatory as possible."
He said if Cabinet decides to make public funding available for the plebiscite it should be equal between the "yes" and "no" campaigns. Senator Brandis also confirmed the plebiscite would be compulsory.
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