Don't have a divisive marriage equality pebiscite - Western Australia gov

We now have an entire state parliament, with a Lieberal premier, telling the Turnbull federal Lieberals to ditch the plans for a plebiscite on gay marriage. That FFS you Canberra bludgers do your fuckin job, represent the fuckin people, and have a fuckin conscience vote (well words to that effect).

Fucks sake Malcolm, make your prime ministership historic. Are you a fuckin leader or bound by the deals that got you there. Are you really going to abandon your principle for a deal made in hell? You've a lot of political capital on this, and you will become more popular for doing it. Nobody is going to turf you over it. FFS lead us, make history. Steal Labor's thunder. I double dog dare you.

The Western Australian parliament has called on the Australian government to abandon plans for a plebiscite on marriage equality. The state’s Liberal premier, Colin Barnett, warned that putting the issue to a public vote would be divisive and destructive. 

Barnett, who restated his position in support of civil unions over marriage equality, likened the marriage equality debate to that surrounding WA’s decision to decriminalise abortion in 1998. In both cases, he said, a difficult decision had to be made, and it was for elected members of parliament to bear. 

“If this issue were to go to a referendum or a plebiscite, I think it would be very destructive,” he said. 

“I think we would see some of the worst sides of Australian society, and I do not believe that should happen. I think we would see people marching in the street on either side of the debate, and we would see acrimony, personal insults, abuse and the like.” 

Barnett made the comments during a debate in state parliament on Wednesday night. The debate was over a motion from Labor MP Lisa Baker, who moved that the state support marriage equality and called on federal parliament to do the same. She argued: “I have the right to marry the person I love. It is not a gift to be bestowed by others, nor is it something we should have to wait to receive when others feel comfortable and ready to give it.” 

The motion was amended, at Barnett’s request, to say the state parliament urged the federal government to abandon plans for a plebiscite on marriage equality and “urgently” hold a free vote in federal parliament. 

They should accept their responsibility and deal with the issue, as this parliament accepted its responsibility and dealt with the probably more difficult issue of abortion and choice,” he said. more