The federal budget confirms the government remains commitment to seeing a plebiscite vote happen on same-sex marriage, despite Senate opposition.
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The budget papers, released on Tuesday night, have $170 million allocated to the cost of a campaign and vote “as soon as the necessary legislation is enacted by the Parliament.”
Tasmanian marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome said the money could be spent elsewhere.
"It's deeply disappointing that the government is persisting with its expensive, damaging, unnecessary and unpopular plebiscite,” he said.
"If the government is determined to spend $170 million on LGBTI issues, it would be better off funding LGBTI school inclusion and mental health programs."
Braddon Labor MHR Justine Keay said the reappearance of the funding was an indication that the government had its priorities wrong.
“This budget is supposed to be all about better days ahead and the critical area of infrastructure,” Ms Keay said.
“While the Government seems to have forgotten about key job creating infrastructure projects like the Cradle Mountain masterplan, critical upgrades to several sections of the Bass Highway and coastal pathways, it has held on to the very unpopular and unnecessary marriage equality plebiscite.”
