Direct democracy can be risky

Plebiscites and referendums are supposed to get citizens more involved and make politicians more responsive. But exercises in direct democracy are always risky. Ask the people to express their opinion and you might not get the result you wanted. Just ask former British PM David Cameron.

Although our Constitution requires a referendum to make changes to our foundational document, direct democracy is not a regular feature of Australian politics — and former High Court judge Michael Kirby has explained cogently why it should not become one.

Kirby is right. For one thing, Australians rarely vote to approve referendum and the two World War I plebiscites failed. But Kirby is also right because in our system of parliamentary democracy politicians are voted in at elections by the people and expected to work on our behalf.

Leave the politicians — rewarded with their good pay and generous superannuation — to do their job. Every few years we can review their performance and sack them if we wish.

There are many reasons why a plebiscite on same-sex marriage is not a good idea. But like it or not, this is the plebiscite we’ve got to have. Tony Abbott promised it, and Malcolm Turnbull picked up that pledge and took it to the election in July. Turnbull has promised faithfully to honour the result.

None of this has stopped plebiscite opponents from trying to block it. They tell us it is too expensive, the start of a slippery slope, or will unleash hatred and bigotry. These are all specious arguments which threaten harm to the very cause the opponents claim to support: marriage equality.

Turnbull can’t afford to waver on the plebiscite promise he made to the Australian people. Nor can he afford to grant a conscience vote on the floor of the House of Reps. Parliament should pass the plebiscite bill and proceed to put the matter to the country at the earliest opportunity.

Failure to do so will undermine Turnbull’s fragile authority and set back the cause of marriage equality — something to which the PM is committed — until well beyond the next election.