Ballot papers for the same-sex marriage postal survey were distributed from Tuesday, as the Government used a rare moment of bi-partisanship to push through increased laws seeking to make it unlawful for campaigners of either side of the debate to vilify, intimidate or threaten other people, with civil penalties of up to $12,600 the headline story.
The laws will apply to “conduct” during the campaign, which could include advertising, leaflet materials or behaviour. Judges will have the power to injunct any materials subject to an alleged breach, but the Attorney-General will also have the power to appeal that injunction.
