The government’s proposed marriage plebiscite has been delivered a fresh blow with openly gay Liberal senator Dean Smith declaring he will not vote for it.
The LGBTI community fears the nastiness a plebiscite on marriage equality could bring forth.
AAP
Freedom of speech does not mean you can say anything to anyone, regardless of the damage it does – an important consideration in the debate over a same-sex marriage plebiscite.
Tuesday’s Newspoll showed dissatisfaction with Malcolm Turnbull on 52% compared with his satisfaction level of 34%.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
The government is “approaching this term with optimism”, according to the governor-general’s speech opening parliament. This is good to hear, because a more pessimistic character than Malcolm Turnbull…
A minister of religion is not obliged to solemnise any marriage.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Ministers of religion who support marriage equality would be able to challenge the Marriage Act in the High Court. They would stand a good chance of winning.
Since retiring from politics in 2012, former Greens leader Bob Brown has continued to offer sharp perspectives on issues of national debate.
Bob Brown said that while a plebiscite was the wrong way to go, without it ‘I think that down the line there’s three more years of waiting’.
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Former Greens leader Bob Brown has said the door should be kept open for a plebiscite if that is the only way of achieving same-sex marriage in the foreseeable future.
Anthony Albanese has expressed concern about supporting the scrapping of the clean energy supplement for new welfare recipients.
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Federal MPs reassemble in Canberra on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s opening of parliament, with the government talking up what the Coalition used to call a budget emergency and Labor keeping maximum pressure…
Richard Di Natale said the best way of ensuring marriage equality was through a parliamentary vote.
AAP/Mal Fairclough
The government’s plebiscite on same-sex marriage is unlikely to get off the ground, with the Greens announcing they will vote against its establishment.
In many ways Bill Shorten is in a box seat as parliament begins, with Malcolm Turnbull beset by difficult issues and politics.
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Bill Shorten has proposed specific changes to the budget’s controversial superannuation reforms, which have been under attack from the conservatives in the Coalition ranks.
Australia’s political representatives have the ability to legislate on a wide range of matters. Marriage is one of them.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
As the government hints the marriage equality plebiscite may be delayed until 2017, calls intensify for the parliament to legislate on the issue instead. So what is parliament’s role here?
Colin Barnett opposes a plebiscite on same-sex marriage being held close to next year’s WA state election.
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Malcolm Turnbull’s plebiscite on same-sex marriage has run into new problems, with the Australian Electoral Commission recommending it should be delayed until next year.
Twenty countries in our region have laws criminalising sex between consenting males.
AAP/Richard Milnes
Our inward focus on marriage equality means Australia is largely absent from efforts to increase respect for LGBTI people in our region.
Opponents of marriage equality need to be honest about their implicit premises.
Kurt Löwenstein Educational Center International Team/Wikimedia commons
Tiernan Brady was the political director of the 'yes' campaign during the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage. He is in Australia to help advise local advocates.
Hundreds gathered on the steps of Victoria’s State Library to rally in support of same-sex marriage in June.
Melissa Meehan/AAP
Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity