"Hardly a radical shake-up"

Well some of us think overturning an institution that has been the bedrock for western civilisation ever since there has been a western civilisation is somewhat radical.

And we'd rather like to have a say in that change and to give the population a chance to hear all the arguments - pro and con.

Well, let's see if phanto gets it when a second person cites equality as a benefit, instead of happily chugging along completely oblivious to the fact that his arguments already lay in tatters.

phanto,

Since you're so concerned about costs and time wastage, have you weighed these up with the financial and mental health costs of treating gay people and their relationships as second-rate? I'm pretty sure they'd well and truly exceed a few hours of Parliament's time.

Given the amount of amateur psychology you engage in, I'm sure you must have some idea. It's just a pity you don't engage in amateur sociology too. You may actually have some understanding of the benefits of equality and the costs of inequality.

Hmmm... apparently not.

mhaze,

In what ways did the nuclear family act as the bedrock of civilisation?

Greens/Labour have proved themselves economic vandals. They are putting on a show about being concerned about the cost of a plebiscite. They are more concerned they may lose. As simple as that.

A J Philips:

“Well .... tatters. “

You are not just talking about equality as some abstract concept – you are talking about the benefits that homosexual people do not enjoy in comparison to the supposed benefits that heterosexual people enjoy because of their possession of a marriage certificate from the government. What exactly are these benefits?

“financial and mental health costs of treating gay people and their relationships as second-rate? “

OK so finally you have raised a supposed benefit. The relationships of gay people are only second-rate if they agree that they are second-rate. What other people think about your relationships is irrelevant – the only thing that matters is what you think about it. If you do not have the confidence that your relationship is equal to anyone else’s then that really is your problem and it is never going to be fixed by getting married. Only you can do something about your own attitudes to your own relationship.

Are the relationships of heterosexual couples who do not possess a certificate from the government also second-rate?

Why do you feel the need to take cheap shots at me? I thought you had left the conversation – maybe you just came back for some bitching.

In fact they know they are more likely to lose than win. They & their ABC have been using push polling to get the garbage that the majority approve, hence the desperation to avoid a poll.

It really is a simple answer.

If you can breed naturally together, or could have if you are past it, you can get married.