All people should have their say on marriage

AUGUST 12, 2015: FOLLOWING a mammoth meeting of the Liberal National Coalition Government last night, it is highly likely that the issue of gay marriage will be put to the people to vote on.I have been calling for this option since before the last election and have had several discussions with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his advisers on the idea.I am hopeful we can resolve the issue of same sex marriage by committing to putting it to the people to vote on and then it can be resolved once and for all.Last night during the six-hour debate on whether the Liberal National Coalition should change its policy on marriage, the idea of a people’s vote emerged as a strongly supported option with approval even from the Prime Minister.I know that the people of Dawson want us to be focussing on other matters like jobs, economic security and national security.But while this issue garners so much media attention and has become a fixation for Labor and the Greens, we have to find a resolution so we can refocus on jobs and security.I believe the idea of a people’s vote on the question of same sex marriage would be widely supported.Whether you are for gay marriage, or you are for traditional marriage, everyone can unite around the idea of a people’s vote on this topic.After all, marriage is a cultural institution and the culture is determined by the people.If the people want to change the cultural institution of marriage, then they should be the ones to do so in a referendum or plebiscite.It’s better that 24 million Australians get a say on this rather than 226 politicians in Canberra.