(Carol Cho/European Pressphoto Agency)
The Australian government has planned to cast a plebiscite (referendum) to leave the public the question of whether same-sex marriage should be legalized. It is suggested by some people that, it is a way the Turnbull's government to have the last chance to defeat same-sex marriage by appealing to the (potential) majority of the public, since the majority of the Parliament is obviously for same-sex marriage.
So what is wrong with having a plebiscite to decide on that?
I think putting out a plebiscite is only appropriate when it is something that is less crucial and more about the preference of the public, like changing the country's flag. Letting the public to decide on a certain group of people's right is extremely inappropriate.
The majority is not always respectful for certain people's rights. History speaks louder than my words. Why else did the institution of slavery exist and why was it so hard to demolish? Easily passing something to the public to exercise direct democracy and make a decision without personal consequences is not ideal representative democracy. It is "mob rule".
There is no doubt that same-sex marriage involves the question of whether it is a human right. If it is, and the legislature and/or the executive government passed it to the public to decide, the public would possibly use the power of the majority to suppress gay people. That would be against the concept of protecting minority rights under democracy.
If the government considers it necessary and critical, then they would exert their power and do things in their authority to make it happen, i.e. proposing the bill and trying to persuade the Parliament to pass the law.
