Referendum challenges should be fast-tracked

The 34th Amendment (marriage-equality referendum) was passed in May, but we must await the outcome of legal challenges before it can be enacted. 

This could run all the way the to the Supreme Court. No-one knows how long that will take, but there will be a considerable delay before legislation can be initiated.

Joanna Jordan appealed the outcome of the 31st Amendment to the Constitution (children’s referendum), which was passed by 58% of voters in 2012. Because of that challenge, the amendment was not signed into law until April 28, 2015, when she lost in the Supreme Court, at considerable cost to the State.