2013‑2014‑2015

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE

Presented and read a first time

Marriage Equality Plebiscite Bill 2015

No.      , 2015

(Senators Rice, Lazarus, Leyonhjelm, Lambie, Muir and Xenophon)

A Bill for an Act to require a plebiscite on marriage equality, and for related purposes

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                             1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Object of Act....................................................................................... 1

4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 2

Part 2—National plebiscite                                                                                               3

5............ National plebiscite to be held............................................................... 3

6............ Question to be submitted to electors.................................................... 3

7............ Results of plebiscite............................................................................ 3

Part 3—Miscellaneous                                                                                                         4

8............ Application of Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984............ 4

9............ Regulations......................................................................................... 4

A Bill for an Act to require a plebiscite on marriage equality, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the Marriage Equality Plebiscite Act 2015.

2  Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

3  Object of Act

             (1)  The object of this Act is to enable the views of electors on marriage equality to be determined by national plebiscite.

             (2)  It is Parliament’s intention that if the result of the national plebiscite is that the majority of electors respond in the affirmative to the question specified in section 6, the Parliament will:

                     (a)  pass any legislation necessary to allow marriage between 2 people regardless of their gender; and

                     (b)  do so within 6 months of that result being provided to the Minister under subsection 7(1).

4  Definitions

                   In this Act:

electors means all persons validly enrolled to vote under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 on the date of the next general election.

Minister means the minister responsible for the administration of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

next general election means the first general election for the House of Representatives that is held after this Act commences.

Part 2—National plebiscite

5  National plebiscite to be held

                   The Minister must cause the question specified in section 6 to be submitted to electors at a national plebiscite to be held at the time of the next general election.

6  Question to be submitted to electors

                   The question to be submitted to electors in accordance with section 5 is “Do you support Australia allowing marriage between 2 people regardless of their gender?”.

7  Results of plebiscite

             (1)  The Electoral Commissioner must provide the Minister with a statement setting out the results of the plebiscite as soon as practicable after the plebiscite is held.

             (2)  The Minister must cause a copy of the statement to be laid before each House of the Parliament as soon as practicable.

Part 3—Miscellaneous

8  Application of Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984

             (1)  The Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 applies to the submission of the question specified in section 6 and the scrutiny of the result of the plebiscite with such modifications as are necessary to allow the submission of the question and scrutiny of the result on the same basis as a referendum under that Act.

Note:          Voting is compulsory under that Act, see section 45.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, subsection 11(4) of the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 applies in respect of the presentation of the argument in favour of, or the argument against, the question specified in section 6 with such modifications as are necessary to allow expenditure on the same basis as a referendum under that Act.

9  Regulations

                   The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:

                     (a)  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by the regulations; or

                     (b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.