So-called progressives put politics over a path to gay marriage

Labor senator Penny Wong slams Malcolm Turnbull over the increasingly unlikely gay marriage plebiscite, ABC radio, yesterday:

The plebiscite is a political deceit imposed upon the Coalition by Tony Abbott and the conservatives. It would be expensive, divisive and it is non-binding. It is a deceit that Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t agree with.

Opposing gay marriage is a licence to hate. Wong speaking at Australian National University, June 21:

I know that a plebiscite designed to deny me and many other Australians a marriage certificate will instead license hate speech to those who need little encouragement.

By that logic, they should start drafting retrospective charges against Wong, here speaking on the Ten Network, July 25, 2010:

On the issue of marriage, I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious and historical view around that which we have to respect.

Senator Nick Xenophon shows an admirable concern for the public purse, statement, yesterday:

The plebiscite, which in any event could be disregarded by the parliament, could be in the order of $160 million or more. We believe this money could be better spent.

What a difference a year makes. The Australian, August 23 last year:

Senators Nick Xenophon, David Leyonhjelm, Glenn Lazarus, Jacqui Lambie and Ricky Muir have backed a Greens private member’s bill that would allow the parliament to draft a question to put to the people at the 2016 poll.

Miss Popularity! Pauline Hanson’s got a coffee date in Canberra, Nine’s 60 Minutes, Sunday:

Tony (Abbott) has already offered to have a coffee with me. And I said, “I’d love to.”

Let bygones be bygones? Hanson on Abbott’s 2003 fight against One Nation that led to her being jailed, news.com.au, April 17, 2013:

It was a horrifying experience — I will never forget it. Tony Abbott should have left it up to the voters decide and not done what he did. He destroyed my political career.

No word if Hanson has accepted other invitations. Audience member Mohammed Attai wants to have the One Nation leader over for a feed, ABC’s Q&A, July 18:

Would you be willing to take my offer to inviting you for lunch or dinner … with me and my Muslim family?

Despite what some say, she seems very popular. Labor senator Sam Dastyari, Seven Network, July 2:

Right now, I will invite you to join me in Sydney and I will take you out for a Halal Snack Pack in the western suburbs of Sydney whenever you want.

Let the sun shine in? “Clean energy campaigner” Hannah Aulby thinks Queensland should go solar, The Age, Monday:

In Queensland, 2700 direct jobs would be created if 10 new solar farm projects currently under consideration by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency go ahead

Or not. Brisbane Times’ Tony Moore on solar’s broken promises, August 24:

“The Windorah Solar farm will produce around 300,000kWh of electricity annually and reduce diesel consumption in the town by 100,000 litres a year,” then energy minister Stephen Robertson said. However … it has generated just 942,000kW of power since 2009, a little over one-third its expectations.