The public ballot on same-sex marriage, which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull embraced, could cost the economy of Australia a whopping $525 million in direct expenses and lost productivity. The new research suggests that such plebiscite costs will bring major social harm in the country.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (trading as PwC), an accounting firm who conducted the research, said the plebiscite would result in $280 million lost productivity, plus $158 million on top of the cost of running the nationwide campaign by the Australian Electoral Commission. PwC claims the analysis is as 'rigorous' as any other work undertaken by the globally recognized firm, says The Australian. Meanwhile, Senator Eric Abetz, who is against same-sex marriage, said the estimated report is 'quite bizarre'.
PwC added that the cost to the community of funding two campaigns for and against the proposal would also cause Australia to spend $66 million, while the impact on the well-being and mental health of the lesbian and gay community amounts to $20 million. According to ABC, the firm's chief executive Luke Sayers said that the real cost of the public ballot was three times what has been quoted by the Federal Government.
If the plebiscite will be held at the same time as the federal election, the overall expenses of the vote would then be reduced to $113 million. Jeremy Thorpe, policy and economic partner of PwC, stated they analyzed the impact of similar votes overseas.
In 2015, before Prime Minister Turnbull took office, he was adamantly opposed to the plebiscite regarding it as 'unnecessary' since there is no constitutional amendment needed. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Prime Minister Turnbull argued that it would be a political headache for the Coalition government and would be socially divisive unless dealt with prior to the election via a simple free parliamentary vote.
Currently, Prime Minister Turnbull promised to continue the plebiscite, while the Federal Opposition and the Greens want the issue be resolved by a Parliamentary vote. Morever, PwC undertook the analysis of its own volition, having decided to join more than 800 organizations that have signed a corporate letter supporting same-sex marriage.
