This Anti-Plebiscite TV Ad Lists Some Of The Better Ways We Could Spend $160 Million

There are lots of reasons why holding a plebiscite on marriage equality is a terrible idea. There’s the fact that conservative MPs have already pledged to ignore the outcome. There’s the fact that it will likely lead to an ugly ‘no’ campaign that has the potential to do real harm to the LGBTQI community. And there’s the fact that, at the end of the day, it will likely only tell us what we already know: that a majority of Australians support marriage equality and would just like to see this whole thing over and done with.

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But of all the arguments against the plebiscite, the one that seems most likely to resonate with the general public, regardless of their feelings towards the actual issue of marriage equality, is that it’s going to be really, really expensive. Official estimates put the cost at around $160 million, although some reports have indicated that it may be a great deal higher.

In any case, it’s the waste of taxpayer money that is the focus of a new anti-plebiscite ad produced by the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). The 30-second spot argues that $160 million could be better spent to hire “477 more registered nurses” or “578 public school teachers”, or to help “1,975 post grad students to finish their math, science or technology degree”. Which is to say nothing of how many Maccas soft serve cones it could buy.

The ad ends by directing viewers to www.makeitlaw.com.au, where they can find instructions on how to email their federal representative.