I am an Australian citizen, I was born in Australia, I live in Australia and I am disappointed in Australia. I have written in the past, an article titled “Why Do I Know More About Other Countries Politics, and Not My Own?” and it remains to be a poignant question in my life. I check social media and see American media and American news, and while I think it’s important to remain educated on things going on in the world, I don’t know much about the politics in my own country.
At the moment, the Australian government is talking about holding a plebiscite to determine whether they should change the laws around marriage equality. Now if you, like me, do not know what a plebiscite is, here is the direct definition: “the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution.” So basically it’s when the government holds a vote to the public to determine whether they should change their laws, but it is not legally binding, and it costs a ridiculous amount of tax payers money.
Right now, you can enroll to participate in a “postal vote” to determine whether Australians want marriage equality or not. This is not a plebiscite, but it is the same idea; it is not binding, it is an unnecessary step in the reforms needed to bring about marriage equality. Instead of this postal vote, there could instead be a ‘free vote’ in Parliament, which the opposition to the Prime Minister, Bill Shorten, has been pushing instead of the postal vote. This postal vote is being pushed by our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, as a way to prompt a free vote, as he says that a yes vote will amount to a free vote, and a no vote, will not. However, I think we can all see the flaw in that logic, this postal vote won’t change the minds of politicians like Tony Abbott, like Pauline Hanson; this could still amount to nothing. Even if the Australian public votes for marriage equality to be brought in, the government can still say “no, we’re not going to legalise gay marriage.”
That being said, if you are Australian and you are older than 18+ you should enroll to vote, no question about it. Because even if this doesn’t change anything, your voice matters, in any way, shape or form.
With the world in its current state, it’s a tremendous privilege to be a citizen and to not vote on something like this, because it “doesn’t affect you” or it “won’t make a different”. This is not the time to stick your head in the sand, whether you’re American and dealing with Nazis and White Supremacists in the White House, or Australian and dealing with homophobic, racist and Islamophobic governments; it is always important for you, if you are in a position of privilege, to use your voice to empower others. To show that you support people, whether they’re different or the same to you. I think it’s insane that in 2017 we have literal Nazis walking the streets of American, chanting “White Lives Matter”, and that the President won’t condemn them, or that a first world country like Australia can be so backward in its government and its policies; but I will still fight to stop all of it, to change what I can, using the privilege I have. And so should you, in whatever way you can. Sign petitions, donate money, enroll to vote, write articles; use your voice.
If you’re Australian, enroll or make sure you’re enrolled so we can change this ignorant system. Yes, it might not bring about results, yes it might cost too much of our tax paying money, and yes it might amount to nothing. But if you’re speaking up and you’re using your voice, it will never be anything.
