Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
When the government didn’t get the numbers to pass legislation for a same-sex marriage plebiscite they put the wheels in motion for their second best plan: a postal survey.
Since announcing that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) would be responsible for carrying out the same-sex marriage postal survey, acting special minister of state Mathias Cormann has had no shortage of questions from journalists and on social media.
In the absence of normal protections offered by the Australian Electoral Commission, Cormann says the government is developing legislation to ensure the respective ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns are respectful.
Similarly, issues around accessibility to the postal vote are being worked out by the ABS, with a paperless option being created for certain circumstances.
On the High Court challenges tabled for August 24 he says that while no forms will be sent out until September 12 - after the issue is resolved - any money spent preparing the postal survey will have been spent. “We believe the course of action we have chosen is constitutional and legal but this is now a matter for the High Court”.
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Joe Hockey says Kamala Harris and Anthony Albanese share views
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Politics with Michelle Grattan: Pat Turner on Indigenous empowerment, Closing the Gap, and future Indigenous leadership
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Lester Munson on Kamala Harris’s style and a changed Trump
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Joe Hockey on how Australia should navigate a second Trump term
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Fatima Payman on the challenges and opportunities of being a crossbencher
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on 'calling out' claims about the energy transition's cost
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Peter Malinauskas on political donations, kids on social media, and the nuclear option
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Clive Hamilton on how Australians must adapt to 'Living Hot'
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Norton on the Albanese government's interventionist policy to cut foreign student numbers
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Bragg flags a coalition would use 'coercion' of the states to get more new houses built
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Madeleine King on investment incentives and the pivotal role of gas
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Budget fight looms on Future Made in Australia tax breaks
Politics with Michelle Grattan: James Paterson on prospects for passage of the government's deportation bill
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Anne Summers says we need much more information on male perpetrators of violence against women
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Economist Chris Richardson on recent economic data and whats in store for the upcoming budget
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Independent MP Dai Le on the church attack in her electorate
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Burns on being a Jewish MP during a terrible conflict
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