Equality advocates are calling on members of the Liberal party who support marriage equality to cross the floor and vote for reform.

The outcry comes just after the Liberal party decided to retain their position to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality, after much speculation about a possible free vote on a newly crafted bill by WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith.

Veteran LGBTI advocate Rodney Croome says it is very disappointing that the Liberal Party has failed to do the right thing by the Australian people.”

“We urge Liberals who support marriage equality to table marriage equality legislation and cross the floor to vote for it.”

“Today’s decision has let down the millions of Australians who support marriage equality and will only inspire us to push harder for this vital reform.”

Parents of Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) national spokesperson Shelley Argent says the fight is far from over.

“We will lobby the Senate to continue to oppose a plebiscite and we will move to have a postal vote struck down in the High Court,” Argent said.

“We do not accept, and will never accept, the demeaning terms and conditions the Government has attached to marriage equality.”

Felicity Marlowe of Rainbow Families Victoria says a free vote is the only legitimate way to deal with marriage equality, while just.equal spokesperson Ivan Hinton-Teoh says the plebiscite is destined to fail in whatever form.

“We urge sensible Liberals to short circuit this continuing national embarrassment and force a vote,” Hinton-Teoh said.

PFLAG has received legal advice from leading QC, Ron Merkel, that a postal vote is unlikely to be constitutional without enabling legislation and a specific budgetary allocation.  

OIP Staff