Turnbull to Make Second Attempt at Australian Gay Marriage Vote
- Liberals try again to pass legislation after first bid blocked
- Prime minister wants to defuse issue that’s divided his party
Supporters of same-sex marriage march in Sydney on Aug. 6.
Photographer: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will make another attempt to hold a mandatory public vote on whether to allow same-sex marriage in Australia after a similar bid failed last year.
The government is “absolutely committed” to “give the Australian people a say on whether or not the definition of marriage should be changed,” deputy Senate leader Mathias Cormann said after a two-hour special meeting of lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Party in Canberra on Monday. Legislation will be re-introduced to parliament later this week, with the government to seek a voluntary postal ballot if it is voted down.