Australian TV advert from same-sex marriage opponents branded 'ridiculous scaremongering'

Television adverts campaigning against same-sex marriage in Australia have been branded as “ridiculous scaremongering”  ahead of a postal survey which could lead to its legalisation.

The Coalition for Marriage - the key body behind the ‘No’ campaign - launched its first national television advertising campaign on Tuesday evening, the first major offensive from those opposing any change in legislation. 

The 30-second advertisement, described by opposition leader Bill Shorten as “offensive and hurtful”, features three mothers who link the issue of same-sex marriage with education in schools. 

 The first woman says her son was told he could wear a dress to school if he wanted. “The school told my son he could wear a dress next year if he felt like it,” she says.

Another mother says that when same-sex marriage was passed overseas, LGBTI programmes became more widely spread and compulsory. “In countries with gay marriage, parents have lost their right to choose,” the ad says. 

The third woman complains that “kids in year seven are being asked to role play being in a same-sex relationship”.

“In countries with gay marriage, parents have lost their rights to choose,” the ad says. “We have a choice, you can say no.”

Mr Shorten, the Labor leader, told Fairfax Media the ad was “offensive and hurtful to LGBTI Australians and their families”.

“This is exactly what was predicted when Malcolm Turnbull decided to waste $122 million on a postal survey. He gave the green light to this rubbish,” Mr Shorten said.

Tiernan Brady, the Equality Campaign executive director, told news.com.au the “ad is disgraceful in its dishonesty”.

“The people behind this ad know that the Australian people are for allowing all Australians the right to marry so they want to desperately pretend this simple straightforward question is about something else,” Mr Brady said.

“As they try to divide Australians will continue to campaign to unite all Australians.”

The campaign came under fire on social media, where many expressed outrage at the advert.

“Ridiculous scaremongering here,” said Poppa Funkadelic.

“The ad run by the Coalition for Marriage makes me physically ill. They had to bring the kids into it,” said Jess Anastasi. 

Another said: “Just saw an ad for the 'You can say No' campaign. The coalition should be ashamed of themselves for scare mongering in schools.”

The Coalition for Marriage defended the advert, saying it conveyed the concerns of Australian parents.

Sophie York, spokeswoman for the group, said in a statement: “Millions of Australians are now concerned about the consequences of changing the Marriage Act.

“Australian parents have a right to know how a change in the marriage law will affect what their kids are taught at school. The education departments won’t tell them. Those lobbying for change won’t tell them.”

Australia is one of the only developed English-speaking countries not to have legalised same-sex marriage, despite strong popular support and the backing of a majority of lawmakers.

Australians will vote over several weeks from mid-September in the non-compulsory postal ballot on whether to legalise same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage is supported by 61 percent of Australians, a 2016 Gallup opinion poll showed, but the issue has fractured the Turnbull government and damaged his standing with voters, now at a six-month low.

The fight for marriage equality in Australia