CANBERRA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Treasurer Scott Morrison on Thursday defended the government's decision to spend 122 million Australian dollars (96.3 million U.S. dollars) on a postal vote to help the government decide the future of same-sex marriage.
In an explosive interview of national breakfast television, Morrison was challenged by Seven Network host and political commentator David Koch, who accused the government of "wasting money because the politicians don't have the guts to make the decision (in Parliament)."
Morrison responded by saying that the government took the idea of a plebiscite to the previous federal election, and the Australian people voted for it.
"Keeping promises is money well spent," Morrison said after the idea of a plebiscite - or public vote - was rejected by the Senate on Wednesday.
"We took this promise to the people, saying that everyone would get a say on this. We were upfront on the cost and we are keeping that commitment to the Australia people. When a government makes a promise, you expect them to follow through."
Koch claimed that the government also promised to be "fiscally responsible" if re-elected, claiming that a "non-binding, non-compulsory" vote on same-sex marriage was a "stupid" idea.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has been charged with organizing the voluntary postal vote. Ballot papers are to be sent to all enrolled Australians in September, with the result to be announced in November.
If the public is in favor of same-sex marriage, the question will only then be taken to the parliament.
