LGBTI community advocates have praised the courage and principle of Liberal West Australian Senator Dean Smith for declaring his opposition to a marriage equality plebiscite.

 

Spokesperson for LGBTI advocacy group, just.equal, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, said,

 

"Senator Smith deserves the applause of the growing number of Australians who are against an expensive, divisive and unnecessary plebiscite and want Parliament to do its job by voting through marriage equality." 

 

"I encourage all Coalition members who value our existing system of government and balk at the damage a plebiscite will cause to follow Senator Smith's lead."

 

"My hope is that Senator Smith will join with other Senators across all parties to move a marriage equality bill forward in the Senate."