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Australia to measure gay marriage support in mail-in vote after bill fails

By Andrew V. Pestano
A marriage equality advocate poses for a photograph with a rainbow flag during the "Sea of Hearts" event outside of the Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Tuesday. Photo by Lukas Coch/EPA
A marriage equality advocate poses for a photograph with a rainbow flag during the "Sea of Hearts" event outside of the Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Tuesday. Photo by Lukas Coch/EPA

Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Australian citizens will be asked where they stand on potential legalization of same-sex marriage in a non-binding mail-in vote, after lawmakers failed to pass legislation Wednesday to make it a national plebiscite vote issue in November.

Canberra's governing Liberal-National Coalition failed to pass a bill in Parliament that would have secured funding to restore Australia's compulsory plebiscite on Nov. 25, which means the same-sex marriage vote will instead likely take shape as a voluntary voting effort.

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"At the last election, we made a very clear promise to the Australian people that we would not facilitate the introduction of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage until the Australian people had had their say," Turnbull said in a press conference on Tuesday prior to the plebiscite effort falling short.

The traditional plebiscite and postal votes would not be legally binding if it's shown that most Australians support legalizing same-sex marriage. Turnbull had said if the plebiscite bill failed, then he would move ahead with the vote-by-mail option.

"We will hold a postal vote on this issue asking the same question in which all Australians will have their say -- they will get the opportunity to express their opinion on the issue of whether the law should be changed to enable same-sex couples to marry, fulfilling the commitment we made at the election," he said.

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Some who voted against the plebiscite said they don't oppose legalization of same-sex marriage, but rather they believe the effort is too expensive and could generate a hate-fueled campaign.

Some lawmakers argue the issue could be resolved with a simple vote in Parliament, but Turnbull's government seeks to gauge public support first. The Liberal-National Coalition attempted to legalize same-sex marriage last year, but the proposal was narrowly defeated.

Australian Sen. Penny Wong, who is gay and has two children, said Wednesday -- citing a past incident of hate -- that a Christian group in 2013 suggested children who have gay parents are "stolen."

"The Australian Christian Lobby described our children as the stolen generation," Wong said. "We love our children and I object, as do every person who cares about children, and as do all those couples in this country, same-sex couples who have kids, to be told our children are a stolen generation."

Turnbull's government said ballots for the vote could be sent to Australians as early as Sept. 12, with responses due by Nov. 7. Results would be made public by Nov. 25. The Australian Bureau of Statistics would oversee the process, which would cost taxpayers about $96 million.

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Recent polls show a majority of people favor changing Australia's Marriage Act to legalize same-sex unions.

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