Kelly O’Dwyer: No decision has been made on plebiscite date

Kelly O’Dwyer, the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, has told the ABC’s ‘Insiders’ program that the government has made no decision on the timing of a plebiscite for marriage equality or the wording of the question.

News reports have suggested that the government has decided to push back the plebiscite until February 2017 and the question will be “‘Do you approve of a law to permit people of the same sex to marry?”

O’Dwyer said that while the Special Minister for State, Scott Ryan, had received some advise from the Australian Electoral Commission the government had made no decisions on the timing of the plebiscite and was yet to consider the issue.

“My understanding is the Special Minister of State has received clear and direct advice from the Australian Electoral Commission that says it’s not possible to hold it before the end of the year.” O’Dwyer told the ABC’s Barrie Cassidy.

The Minister would not be drawn on why it was no longer possible to hold the poll before the end of the year but said the government had always been committed to scheduling the vote as soon as it was practicable.

O’Dwyer said the decision on when the plebiscite would be held was the responsibility of the cabinet and no decision had been made regarding the timing or question of the marriage plebiscite.

The minister said equally she could not rule out that the plebiscite may still occur in 2016, restating that the government has made no decisions.

OIP Staff