CLAIRE Jolliffe takes Bill Shorten to task over his declaration of plans to legislate marriage equality if elected as Prime Minister (Daily, September 14) and waxes lyrical about the sanctity of the will of the people.

Realities show that argument for the convenient fiction it is.

Bill Shorten proposes to use the same process as John Howard (without consulting the will of the people) used to create the issue now being polled.

It's the same Parliamentary process that will be needed to enable the 'yes' vote if it's successful.

He's putting his proposal to the ultimate test of the will of the people - an election.

The current $120 million opinion poll is not about the will of the people, it's the LNP hoping for a 'no' vote to avoid further fracturing within the LNP.

Ms Jolliffe's will of the people argument might have been given some credibility had the LNP committed to acting on a 'yes' vote.

But it hasn't.

And won't.

It will become a 'conscience vote'.

At considerable community and financial cost, we'll experience the LNP putting its interests before the country's.

Again. As usual.

ANDREW MORAN

Battery Hill