Labor leader Bill Shorten has told reporters that he’ll be actively campaigning for the YES side of the marriage equality debate.

Following the High Court’s decision that will allow the government’s plan for a nationwide postal survey on marriage to proceed, Shorten said it was time to make sure the result of the process was a positive one.

“Whilst we believe that this $122 million dollar survey is a waste of tax payers money, we want to say to people who are feeling disappointed, please turn your disappointment into determination. Determination to win.

“This is a debate where we need to encourage all Australian to participate in this survey. If this survey must be then we must win it.

“I won’t be in the sidelines in this debate, nor with the Labor party of my colleagues. We will be on the front line talking to family and friends, people in workplaces, people in shopping centres and street corners, encouraging people to vote YES for marriage equality.

Shorten said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should also actively campaign for marriage equality rather than claim that the demands of his office would not give him enough time.

The Labor leader said his party would be quick to condemn any vilification of LGBTI Australians during the campaign.

“Whenever we see vilification and vile abuse, we will condemn it. Wherever we see people talking rubbish about unrelated issues, we will call it out.

Senator Penny Wong said many Australians would have been disappointed by the High Court’s decision.

“We didn’t want to be here, but now we are here. Lets win it, lets get it done.”

Senator Wong encouraged all supporters of marriage equality to campaign and “get out the vote”.

OIP Staff