Conservative MPs have insisted public funding for the yes and no campaigns is necessary for a “proper” plebiscite on same-sex marriage, in a clear warning to Malcolm Turnbull not to withhold funds. On Monday Entsch said he was “absolutely” opposed to public funding for the plebiscite. “Any suggestion [public funding] was a decision or commitment made in the partyroom is absolutely wrong,” he told ABC radio. He said the six-hour partyroom debate that settled on the plebiscite as a compromise without a formal vote did not even discuss public funding. Entsch noted that only the side opposed to same-sex marriage was calling for taxpayer funds.

Source: The Guardian September 11, 2016 23:03 UTC