Same-sex marriage vote stalled

Citing the changes to the marriage act as inevitable, Darren Ralph believes a plebiscite would have come at an unnecessary cost to tax payers when the issue could be passed through parliament.

In a sensational move on Wednesday, federal Labor eader Bill Shorten announced his party rejected the plebiscite proposal with the caucus agreeing to block the move in the senate.

Mr Shorten passed the political hot potato back to the Federal government asking them to allow a vote. 

Speaking to The Leader on Wednesday, Darren Ralph, Tamworth Area Gay and Lesbian Group co-owner, said the nation didn’t need to cop the cost on an issue the government could make a decision on themselves.

He also questioned why there was no plebiscite to amend the 1961 Marriage Act in 2004, but there needed to be now.

“If they can make a change in 2004 without consulting with the public, they can make a decision in 2016/2017 without coughing up the money,” Mr Ralph said.

“From what I have seen, I believe politicians realise a change is due and they should go with their conscience on that.

“We are one of a very few countries left who don’t have same sex marriage – people legally married overseas come to Australia and their marriages aren’t recognised.

“I think we are progressive enough to say we are due for a change.”

Disappointed by the Opposition’s decision, Member for New England Barnaby Joyce urged those equally as disheartened to contact their Labor senators or federal members.

“They’ve rejected the capacity to deal with the issue and have it over and done with by February,” Mr Joyce said.

“The best way to deal with it was by plebiscite.

“I get one vote, you get one vote and all your readers get one vote.

“What the Labor party has done is, they haven’t voted against it, they have voted against resolving the issue.”