Australian PM warned by anti-gay marriage predecessor to not drop controversial plebiscite
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has delivered a blunt warning to his successor Malcolm Turnbull. Abbott warned Turnbull, the current PM, that he should not go back on his promise of a free vote on same-sex marriage in parliament.
Abbott issued the warning after it was revealed that pressure was being put on the government to drop the national plebiscite before a vote being held in parliament.
A number of MP’s lashed out at Turnbull and said that allowing a vote in parliament and dropping the plebiscite was a “betrayal” of commitments made during the election.
A plebiscite means $7.5 million dollars would be given to anti-gay marriage campaigners, and many LGBT activists are against the plebiscite because of the emotional trauma it could cause to people who identify within the LGBT realm.
It is believed that if Turnbull dropped the plebiscite and went through with a parliament vote, then same-sex marriage would most likely become legal.
However, Abbott who is notoriously anti-gay marriage, has since pushed Turnbull to stick to the plebiscite policy.
“Malcolm Turnbull made a clear election commitment that the marriage law would only change by way of people’s plebiscite, not free vote of the parliament,” he said.
“I’m sure he’ll honour that commitment. This isn’t about same-sex marriage, it’s about keeping faith with the people.”
