The true cost of the proposed marriage plebiscite could be as high as $525 million dollars according to leading accounting firm PwC.
PwC have released the results of their modelling which shows the loss of productivity caused by holding as stand alone plebiscite on marriage equality would cost the economy $280 million. That’s on top of the $158 million estimated by the Australian Electoral Commission as the cost of conducting the plebiscite.
Supplying funding to the respective ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns would cost an additional $66 million dollars, while the mental health costs to the LGBTIQ+ population could top $20 million.
PwC Australia’s Chief Executive Luke Sayers has argued that the government should took at the total cost of the exercise and consider if three times the costs mentioned to date is the best way forward.
“Total economic costs have not been considered before and should be part of the debate on the best way to achieve a resolution to this issue,” Mr Sayers said.
The PwC boss said the plebiscite was; “a massive waste of time and money, that will remove focus on the economy, growth, and jobs, which is the real priority for Australia”.
“The mechanism chosen to make this change is vital to minimise the cost to the economy and health and well-being of our communities,” Mr Sayer said. “Our modelling points to a parliamentary vote as the best mechanism for change.”
The cost of holding a parliamentary vote on the matter was estimated to be just $17 million.
PwC commissioned the research themselves. The accounting firm is a vocal supporter of marriage equality in Australia and have pledged their support to the campaign to change the laws. Last year the firm was ranked the best employer for LGBTIQ+ people according top the Pride in Diversity Index
The firm came under fire recently when it was revealed that one of their senior executives was a board member of Australian Christian Lobby.
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is the nation’s largest lobby group against same sex marriage. Senior Executive Mark Allaby resigned from the lobby groups board reportedly due to pressure from his employer.
The campaigns to attempt to persuade Australians whether or not people of the same gender should be allowed to wed could cost as much as $6 per person, based on the costs of overseas campaigns of a similar nature.
The Australian Christian Lobby has argued that public funding for their campaign is essential and that the nation’s anti-discrimination laws and anti-vilification laws should be lifted during the campaign.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to stick with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s policy of holding a plebiscite despite the large costs involved. Despite several high profile members of his own party questioning the decision the Prime Minister was still voicing his preference for the plan last week.
The Greens and Labor have called for a parliamentary vote to held instead of the plebiscite.
OIP Staff
All that money could go to better education, particularly those making the rules for an unnecessary apending of money we are not supposed to have in the public purse.