The same-sex marriage plebiscite, scheduled in the weeks after Malcolm Turnbull's likely victory on Saturday, will upstage any of the nastiness we've seen in recent politics.
It's a recipe for disaster and that's why you'll have to wait until after you lodge your vote to find out how it might really work.
![This is an issue where leadership should prevail. Where those in same-sex unions should not need the permission of ...](/web/20161005093855im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/0/0/x/g/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gpuzbo.png/1471398634418.jpg)
It is already driving an almighty chasm through Coalition ranks: between MPs in its two parties, between the conservative and moderate ranks, and between MPs, who might want a change, and their conservative electorates, who shun same-sex unions.
You've seen snippets of that in recent days, with the secret push to allow Coalition MPs to reflect the views of their electorates or states, instead of the national result.
You've seen it in the line-up of Coalition MPs, who refuse to say on what basis they will lodge their vote. (I mean don't you have a right to know that before heading for the polling booth on Saturday).
And it was evident yesterday, as Malcolm Turnbull was asked question after question about the mechanics of the public vote.
It would run along the lines of a referendum, he said. (Although it's probably crucial to point out that a referendum is legally binding).
But let's say the plebiscite votes for same-sex marriage because it's really difficult to imagine that it won't, based on any recent polling.
Based on what we've heard this week, that doesn't mean anything. Your politicians could still vote against it. Or for it. They're just not saying, until after Saturday.
That's the politics, which looks a bit like a dog's breakfast.
But the more worrisome point with the plebiscite is the ugly bigotry that will run alongside the campaigns to vote it down.
In recent months we've seen the same wave of intolerance envelop chunks of Europe.
And now we're seeing it in Britain; the contentious move to exit the European Union has led to targeted abuse of those who many don't believe belong there.
In the same vein, imagine how a protracted public debate on same-sex marriage is going to play out in Australia. It risks being just horrible.
It shouldn't have to be like that. This is an issue where leadership should prevail. Where those in same-sex unions should not need the permission of voters across Australia to grow old together. Where parents shouldn't have to worry that their children, by being themselves, are shunned by others.
Former Tony Abbott staffer Peta Credlin suggested early this week that the issue could even cost Malcolm Turnbull the prime ministership if the two Coalition parties splintered.
That might be a big call, but it would only happen if the public spat over the issue reached screeching point.
That's in no-one's interest. So here's an idea. Let's take the politics out of it. Let's allow people to make a decision in the privacy of their own homes.
Let's simply add a question to the looming census. Do you support same-sex marriage?
And when the answer is a resounding "yes", without politics driving it, our MPs can walk into Parliament and do what they are employed by voters to do: reflect our views.
Sometimes the direct route is the best.
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