Challenge filed in court to Australian gay marriage ballot
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gay-rights advocates have lodged a High Court challenge to the government's unusual plan to canvass Australians' opinion on gay marriage next month, while a retired judge says he will boycott the survey.
Australians are to vote on gay marriage through a non-binding ballot by mail before the conservative government would consider legislating the issue. Lawyers lodged an application for a court injunction on Thursday that would prevent the so-called postal plebiscite from going ahead.
Retired High Court judge Michael Kirby is a gay man who supports marriage equality. He dismissed the ballot as "irregular and unscientific polling."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government had legal advice that the postal ballot would withstand legal challenge.