A Test of Australian Maturity - The Centre for Independent Studies
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A Test of Australian Maturity

RF marriage equality same sex gay

It’s time not just to focus on who will win the marriage debate, but how we are going to live with the peace. The legislation of same-sex marriage in Australia became inevitable once Labor made it party policy. Irrespective of what happens with the postal plebiscite, Labor will achieve government at some stage.
It will be on the day after the change — or rather in the decades and centuries after — that Australia will face an important test of its maturity as a civil and civilised society. Even if a large majority would be happy with marriage as redefined, a significant minority will remain unconvinced. They will be not just individuals but also institutions like, for example, the Catholic Church and sections of the Anglican Church. What is to happen with them? Will they be excluded — or exclude themselves — from civil society, or will they be able to play their part?
In the unlikely event the decision was taken to never make the change, will those with a deep commitment to the ‘Yes’ case similarly consider themselves excluded from being fully a part of Australian society?
While we can’t expect those who have deep convictions on either side to change, it will be important to avoid a ‘winner takes all’ outcome that risks permanently sidelining whole sections of our society. We are still going to have to live together as best we can for a very long time.
This is why care needs to be taken before the matter is resolved to prepare for the aftermath.
Long-term thinking is needed. It is a pity that genuine concerns about religious freedom are not gaining bipartisan support.  And, for example, the offensive extremists on both sides — like singer Tim Minchin’s diatribe and the anonymous anti-gay posters in Melbourne — are making things worse. We can do better.