By Kath Gannaway
Have your say on marriage equality is the message coming through strongly from Yarra Glen LGBTI rights activist Jason Ball, and from Casey Liberal MP Tony Smith.
Jason Ball, the Yarra Glen footballer who came out as the first gay footballer, sparking Gay Pride matches in the Yarra Ranges and in the AFL, urged people through his blog last week not to boycott the survey.
Mr Smith also advocated for people to vote, saying he is a strong advocate of the direct democratic process.
He said the Coalition had pledged prior to the last election to hold a compulsory plebiscite, so every Australian voter could have their say.
“That was my promise here in Casey, and it is right that we honour that commitment,” he said.
He said with Labor and the Greens defeating the plebiscite legislation in parliament, the government had moved to honour their pledge to give Australian voters a say through a voluntary postal vote.
As Speaker of the House, Mr Smith will not have a vote.
“If there is to be a parliamentary vote on this issue, I do not get a vote, because unlike every other Member of the House of Representatives, I do not have a deliberative vote on any matter, because I am the Speaker,” he explained.
He did say however, that he had made his position on the same-sex marriage debate known when seeking re-election.
“I made it clear that while I personally had never favoured change, I would honour the outcome of the plebiscite,” he said.
“That is the purpose in having it; to let the people decide. That is why so many Coalition Members of Parliament, have said precisely the same thing.
“People have legitimate views on both sides of the argument, and I urge those involved in the debate to be respectful of those legitimately held views.
“I urge people to have their say,” he said.
Mr Ball, a former Young Australian of the Year and candidate for The Greens in the last election, says however that the government has abdicated its responsibility in not deciding on marriage equality as part of the usual parliamentary process.
“Should the High Court challenge (to the legitimacy of the postal vote) fail, please do not boycott this plebiscite,” he said.
“Now is the time to stand together and show that we are stronger than this government and the vocal minority.”
He said there had already been a groundswell for change, with tens of thousands of people contacting the AEC (Australian Electoral Commission) to update their details, and an increase in new enrolments.
“Should this plebiscite proceed we must all vote ‘Yes’ to show every LGBTI Australian that they matter, they are worthy, they are loved and they are equal,” he said.
The cut-off for enrolling, or updating details is Thursday, 24 August. Go to http://aec.gov.au/enrol or http://check.aec.gov.au.
