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: Kate Chaney on life as a teal MP
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Senator Malarndirri McCarthy on Alice Springs and the Voice
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Jim Chalmers answers critics of his ‘values-based capitalism’
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Albanese flags new progress in China relationship ’in coming weeks’
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Energy crisis has ‘badly damaged’ social licence of coal and gas
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Niki Savva on her book Bulldozed, Scott Morrison and the Liberals’ woes
Politics with Michelle Grattan: ’Teal’ Monique Ryan on the Victorian election and six months in parliament
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tim Colebatch, Kos Samaras and Sumeyya Ilanbey on the Victorian Election
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Karen Andrews on the Medibank hack, visa scams, and winning back women voters
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Energy expert Bruce Mountain on what to do about the gas crisis
Politics with Michelle Grattan:Jim Chalmers, Angus Taylor and Danielle Wood on the budget
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Rod Sims on tax reform and the gas price crisis
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on NDIS reform and the Optus fallout
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on the National Anti-Corruption Commission
Ukraine ambassador urges Australian embassy in Kyiv to reopen ASAP
Professor Joseph Ibrahim on COVID in aged care - and the end of nursing homes
Simon Holmes à Court on ’community candidates’ and two state elections
Treasurer Chalmers on boosting migration and a ’resilience’ budget
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