All indicators are that a plebiscite would pass with a overwhelming yes vote, anyone who believes otherwise is out of touch with reality. Turnbull is under extreme pressure from the fundo religious element within the Coalition to forestall legalising gay marriage.
Good to see the Nick Xenophon Team have seen through the governments nonsense and will now vote against a plebiscite.

Shadow, you are about the only person in Australia, or on the planet for that matter, who believes a mob that scored a miserable 42% of the primary vote got a "mandate" for anything. Your mandate went out the door in 1975, with the Coalition blocking supply.

With Turnbull under fire from all directions, you got to wonder how long this government will last. 18 months at best.

Why are the Greens et al so frightened of asking the people?

Remember that a plebiscite cannot be lost, its only purpose is to find out the will of the people.

One would think that members of a democracy would want to know and abide by the will of the majority of the people.

Is Mise,

If you have to ask that question, then you haven't been paying attention.

<<Why are the Greens et al so frightened of asking the people?>>

The biggest problem with a plebiscite is that the debate in the lead up to it would give hate preachers a podium and inevitably result in increased mental health problems in the gay community.

Why don't we, at the same time, ask the people if they're in favour of interracial marriage? Of course most of us would vote in favour of it, but it would be no less weird (apart from the fact that there are already interracial couples who are married), nor would a vote against interracial marriage mean that banning it would be right.

"Is Mise,

If you have to ask that question, then you haven't been paying attention."

Is Mise you should be ashamed of yourself. Type 100 times " I must pay attention" and apologise to AJP immediately.

As Malcolm fails to show leadership on this and other issues, his own standing and that of his government sinks to new lows. *see the latest 'Newspoll')

Is Mise. do you favor plebiscites for all controversial issues, like gun ownership for example, or do you want it left to our elected leaders to operate like a government, and make decisions on our behalf.

Paul1405: All indicators are that a plebiscite would pass with a overwhelming yes vote, anyone who believes otherwise is out of touch with reality.

Then the Plebiscite should be allowed to happen so there would be no ambiguity in exactly what the majority of people in Australia want.

Is Mise: One would think that members of a democracy would want to know and abide by the will of the majority of the people.

Not if you are a Socialist, Greenie, Marxist or any combination of weirdo factions whose only ambition is to disrupt Society by all means possible.

AJP: and inevitably result in increased mental health problems in the gay community.

Chicken or the Egg?

Paul1405: Is Mise. do you favor plebiscites for all controversial issues, like gun ownership for example, or do you want it left to our elected leaders to operate like a government, and make decisions on our behalf?

There are questions that have been unresolved by various Governments for 100 years. It's time to put those Unresolved Questions to the Australian People.

Thank you for adding to the List. Gun Ownership.

<Let's clear a few other things up at the same time; Euthanasia, Nuclear Waste Storage. Does anyone want to add to the list>

One big Plebiscite with all the Unresolved Questions on the sheet would fix a lot of problems in Australia & save a lot of money in the long run.