JOY BLOG

14 Aug 2017

Don’t cheat the chance for equality

Following the Senate’s blocking of a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, the Australian government has decided that it will hold a postal ballot to gauge public opinion on the matter. Given that the ballot will cost an estimated cost of $122 million, there are many who say that this money could be better spent elsewhere.

The High Court has been asked to decide whether the government has the power even to order a postal vote.

At JOY we are steadfast in our support for marriage equality. Since the first Mardi Gras Parade much progress has been made regarding LGBTIQ rights, for example with the same police force that arrested marchers in 1978 now proudly marching in the parade.

Some may think that this is enough, but we believe that true equality can be achieved only when individuals are treated the same irrespective of their race, religion, gender and sexual orientation. The laws of this country must enshrine equality.

How can you help? What should you do?

Irrespective of your views on the efficacy of a postal ballot, it is vital that every person who is entitled to vote in that ballot be registered with the Australian Electoral Commission by Thursday 24 August in order to be eligible to participate.

Now is not the time to worry about whether the postal vote will go ahead or not. Now is the time to ensure that you are properly enrolled with the AEC. It is easy to go to the AEC website http://www.aec.gov.au/ and enrol yourself if you qualify and are not currently enrolled. Similarly, if you have moved but have not advised the AEC of your new address, you can do so online.

Let’s ensure that as many people as possible are properly registered with the AEC by 24 August – this is just a few days away.

If the postal ballot does eventuate, then you can decide how you will respond when you receive your voting papers. But do not cheat yourself and cheat the chance for equality by not being enrolled with the AEC.