An 11-year-old girl has slammed Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for his government's proposed nationwide vote on marriage equality.
ICYMI: 11-year-old Isabella Mills reads out her letter about the plebiscite on #MarriageEquality #TheProjectTV https://t.co/YBfVAEKbh6
11-year-old Isabella Mills, who lives in NSW with her two mums, read out her letter to the prime minister on Channel 10's The Project on Thursday night.
PM Turnbull and his government are championing a popular vote on marriage to be held after the next election. However, the proposal has come under fire this week after three senators indicated they would still vote against same-sex marriage, regardless of whether the Australian people indicate support.
Isabella told the PM in no uncertain terms she thought the plebiscite was a total waste of everyone's time and money.
"I am struggling to see a point in the plebiscite that you are holding in 2017," Isabella said. "It is a complete waste of time, money, and will most certainly fracture some of the positive views that people have about you"
The Australian electoral commission has estimated the cost of a plebiscite at $158 million – a fact that did not escape Isabella.
"That $160 million that you are willing to waste on a pointless plebiscite is totally unnecessary. I mean, the public has already expressed their views and made it quite clear that they want same-sex marriage for Australia," she said.
"I may not be the Prime Minister, but even I know that Australian could use that money elsewhere."
"All the homeless people you walk past on the streets treasure the few pennies they possess while you are ready to throw millions of dollars right down the drain. And you say you want to help our community."
"You may be fooling the rest of the public but you are not fooling me."
Here's Isabella's striking letter in full.
Dear Mr Malcolm Turnbull.
My name is Isabella Mills. I am an 11-year-old girl and I have gay parents, two mums.
I am struggling to see a point in the plebiscite that you are holding in 2017. It is a complete waste of time, money, and will most certainly fracture some of the positive views that people have about you. That 160 million dollars that you are willing to waste on a pointless plebiscite is totally unnecessary. I mean, the public has already expressed their views and made it quite clear that they want same-sex marriage for Australia.
I may not be the Prime Minister, but even I know that Australian could use that money elsewhere. If an 11 year old girl can see that, why can’t you?
All the homeless people you walk past on the streets treasure the few pennies they possess while you are ready to throw millions of dollars right down the drain. And you say you want to help our community. You might be fooling the rest of the country but you are not fooling me.