Neil Mitchell: Council undermines entire same-sex marriage debate

Neil Mitchell says by denying both sides of the marriage equality debate Darebin City Council is ‘building a conspiracy’.

The council in Melbourne’s north will give same-sex marriage campaigners free use of council facilities and blacklist opponents of marriage equality.

3AW Mornings spoke with Darebin Councillor Susan Rennie who explained the council’s stance.

“The key component are that we won’t allow council spaces to be used by groups campaigning against marriage equality and we will make those spaces available to local LGBTIQ organisations, without charge,” Cr Rennie said.

The Councillor also slammed the government for even having a debate on same-sex marriage.

“The time for debate has passed,” she said.

“I think the whole concept of the vote is absolutely ridiculous.”

But Neil questioned the council’s refusal to recognise the other side of the argument.

“It doesn’t mean that there are not people who are entitled to put a coherent and responsible argument for a ‘no’ vote and if you try to suppress that you’re building a conspiracy which undermines the whole thing,” Neil said.

Click PLAY above to hear the full discussion