The following letter was emailed to
- Luke Gosling MP
- Warren Snowden MP
- Senator Malarndirri McCarthy
- cc’ing Bill Shorten MP and
- Michael Gunner, Chief Minister of the NT
RE: AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY POSITION ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY PLEBISCITE
Rainbow Territory calls on the Labor party to oppose a plebiscite on marriage equality.
Formed in September 2014, Rainbow Territory is a community group that advocates for the human rights of Northern Territorians who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex (‘LGBTQI’). Rainbow Territory aims to develop a safer, fairer and a more inclusive Northern Territory.
We want elected representatives to decide on marriage equality through a vote in parliament.
We oppose a plebiscite on the following grounds:
- The plebiscite will result in homophobic and transphobic statements masquerading as debate. The LGBTQI community will be particularly at risk where the government funds an anti-marriage equality campaign. The risk of public debate perpetuating myths, discrimination and stigma against our community is evidenced by recent comments by the ex- NT Chief Minister Adam Giles who two days before NT Election Day and in the face of a landslide defeat said he did not support Safe Schools as it was “grooming kids in their sexuality”.
- Territorians will have a higher suicide risk. As a result of increased public debate arising from a plebiscite, Northern Territorians will be at increased risk of harmful behaviours and suicide. The NT has the highest suicide rate in the country. The NT has very few support services available to our community, especially in rural and remote areas. Rainbow Territory is not aware of any appropriate remote services providing specific support to LGBTQI people.
- The funding for a plebiscite would be misdirected. The plebiscite is estimated to cost $160M. Safe Schools could be funded twenty times over with this money, as well as other remote area services for our community. Safe schools is yet to be implemented in the NT
- The plebiscite will provide no new information. We believe that given several years since the Marriage Act was amended to exclude same-sex marriage, each member of parliament has had sufficient time to consider this matter and knows how they would vote, or how the majority of their electorate wants them to vote. The plebiscite is an unnecessary information gathering exercise that is non-binding. Further, we note regular polling of community sentiment on the issue takes place, and that the most recent poll shows 72% of Australians support marriage equality.
Rainbow Territory understands a plebiscite will delay marriage equality in Australia. We consider the wellbeing of all of our community is preferred over a plebiscite.
We call on you as an elected representative of the NT to support what is good for Territorians and advocate within the Labor party for no plebiscite.
Rainbow Territory can be contacted at lgbtqi2014nt@gmail.com
Yours faithfully,
RAINBOW TERRITORY
Links:
Guardian article on safe schools program and comments by Adam Giles
Rainbow Territory Media Release on comments by Adam Giles