Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull said he expected the Australian public would endorse gay marriage in a so-called plebiscite. He said he would personally campaign for a “yes” vote. He organizes a plebiscite, it would be the first time in 43 years, and only the fourth time in Australian history.
“I have other calls on my time as prime minister, but I will certainly support a ‘yes’ vote,” Turnbull said.
The conservative Liberal Party-led coalition was narrowly re-elected in July 2016 with a promise to let voters decide whether Australia should recognize same-sex marriage through a popular vote. But the Senate in November blocked the plebiscite, which would cost 170 million Australian dollars ($135 million USD) and promote a divisive public debate.
The Liberal Party held a crisis meeting late Monday to resolve infighting and rejected a push to allow lawmakers to decide the issue now. The government endorsed the party decision to ask the Senate this week to reconsider allowing the plebiscite, which would be held Nov. 25. Voting would be compulsory and failure to vote would be punishable by a fine, though a voluntary vote would be held if the Senate again rejects the measure. The result would not be legally binding and some lawmakers have already declared it would not sway their vote on gay marriage legislation.
If most Australians want gay marriage, the Parliament would vote on legislation before the last two-week session of Parliament on Dec. 7.
“Strong leaders carry out their promises, weak leaders break them,” Turnbull said.
Gay-rights advocates say enough lawmakers already back marriage equality to make same-sex marriage legal in Australia now. For the first time in Australian history, both the prime minister and opposition leader back the reform.
A plebiscite is costly, and it only represents public opinion. The bottom line is that some argue that the people should decide through a plebiscite, while others think the Parliament should make the decision. Australia will one day get its same-sex marriage, if the Bible’s prophecies are true.
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot.” Luke 17:28.
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Please pray for India and for Sijo and his ministry in India. Rising persecution is creating stress on the Hindu nation, especially for Christians. The government enacts repressive laws against Christianity. Persecution is especially difficult in the north where there are killings and torture of Christians, the spread of anti-Christian propaganda. India apparently intends to abolish Christianity in India by 2020.
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