The biggest hurdle for republicans is the reality that Australia is already an independent nation. Only sentiment and inertia links us to the British crown.
The abolition of citizen referendums in the Netherlands will do little to remedy the distrust in the political system – and could strengthen Geert Wilders’ far-right party.
Politics Podcast: Mathias Cormann on the same-sex marriage postal survey
Since announcing that the ABS would be responsible for carrying out the same-sex marriage postal survey, Mathias Cormann has had no shortage of questions.
After a Royal Commission and a citizens’ jury, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has enough advice to decide on his nuclear waste dump plan. Which makes his decision to hold a plebiscite baffling.
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.
By increasing their numbers within the government, the Nationals were the surprise success story of the election, with a very locally focused campaign.
It is easy to envisage a number of arguments that MPs might use in an attempt to justify ignoring the result of a same-sex marriage plebiscite and voting contrary to its result.
Chair/Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Literatures and Cultures, Depts. Spanish and Portuguese, African and African Diaspora Studies, The University of Texas at Austin