Gay marriage plebiscite estimated to cost Australia $525 million: PwC

TODAY the Turnbull Government revealed a postal vote on same sex marriage could cost $122 million but that’s nothing compared to the cost of a full plebiscite.

Malcolm Farr

@farrm51

2 min read

August 8, 2017 - 1:19PMAustralian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australians will get a say on same-sex marriage before the end of the year, pending any court challenge to a postal vote. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

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While the government revealed today the cost of a voluntary postal plebiscite could cost taxpayers $122 million, the cost of a full plebiscite will be much higher.

Consultants PwC have put the full cost of a plebiscite at $525 million, made up of $160 million for the ballot itself, $66 million to fund the “yes” and “no” cases, and $281 million in lost productivity.

Australians will get their say on whether to make gay marriage legal before November 25 if they are unable to secure support for a traditional plebiscite in Parliament this week.

But the voluntary postal plebiscite, which looks the most likely scenario — will be a costly exercise, with no guarantee of marriage equality in the end.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today announced the postal ballot would be entrusted to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with assistance from Australian Electoral Commission officers. Ballot papers will begin arriving in letter boxes in for every Australian on the electoral role by September 12, and a final result would be secured by November 15.