On Thursday, 7th of September, Australia’s High Court rejected two legal challenges against a proposed postal ballot on whether to legalize same-sex marriage, clearing the way for a vote on an issue that has wide support but which has also threatened to divide the government.
Australians, according to the Reuters, will now begin voting in the non-compulsory ballot as early as next week, with a result expected sometime in November. It is said that the court’s decision to reject the legal challenges, both of which argued that the center-right government needed the support of parliament to hold the ballot, comes as a welcome relief for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Although, Turnbull on his own supports same-sex marriage, just as two-thirds of Australians, but his government holds a razor-thin majority and more conservative elements in his Liberal-National coalition have used the issue to threaten his leadership.
Lately, some conservative lawmakers threatened to resign if the court ruled against the proposal, while more liberal members said they would side with the Labor opposition to secure same-sex marriage before Turnbull offered the postal vote as an alternative. It is however noted that a rejection would have led to increased pressure on Turnbull to hold a vote in parliament.
“Every Australian can have a say and we can, as a Commonwealth of Australia, embrace this important social change,” Turnbull told parliament in Canberra after the court’s decision was announced.
Correspondent: Ridwan A Olayiwola
