The Australian Christian Lobby has said it is “disappointed” at a Labor Party decision not to support a plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced via Twitter following a meeting of the ALP members and senators in Canberra today that the party would vote against plans for a plebiscite on the issue. The decision effectively puts an end to the Coalition’s plans to hold a same-sex marriage plebsicite next February.
The ACL said in a statement that the decision shows “that political elites in Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Senator Derryn Hinch do not trust the public to have a respectful national conversation”.
Lyle Shelton, managing director of the ACL, said that despite “constantly claiming overwhelming public support for redefining marriage, it is perplexing that advocates are not willing to trust the Australian people with a decision that has enormous consequences for all families”.
“Such a big change with such big consequences for what children are taught at school, the rights of children to know their mother and father and for freedom of speech should be taken to the people,” he said.
Mr Shelton said it would be a “breach of trust” by the Coalition Government to allow any other “pathway for change” given they won the last election having promised a “people’s vote”.
In a press conference, Mr Shorten said the ALP’s decision to vote against the “expensive, divisive” plebiscite was unanimous.
