Inconsistent rules apply to traditional marriage Vote NO to SSM

A SIGN calling for people to tick No on their same sex marriage survey forms has been taken down within hours of being erected at the Hobart Showground.

The Coalition for Marriage sign was put up yesterday but disappeared a few hours later. The Coalition for Marriage has expressed disappointment about the removal from the billboard.

Coalition spokesman Alex Sidhu said the sign had been erected at 10am yesterday and was taken down at 3pm. It is one of about 10 “It’s OK to say ‘no’” billboards around Tasmania.

“We do not want to comment on how or why the decision to take the sign down was made, we are just concentrating on getting our message out that there are consequences to a change to the definition of marriage,” Mr Sidhu said.

It is understood the billboard is owned and operated by Claude Neon. Claude Neon has been contacted for comment. Liberal Senator 

Eric Abetz said: “This is yet another ugly example the intimidation and bullying engaged in by the ‘yes’ campaign and a glaring insight into the consequences for free speech if the yes case were allowed to prevail.”

Hobart Showground CEO Scott Gadd said his organisation took a neutral stance on the same-sex marriage debate and any signs were welcome unless they were deemed offensive.

“Our view is that as long as the slogan is not offensive we are neither on one side or the other,” Mr Gadd said. “Obviously this sign upset some people and was removed.”

In Burnie, Greens candidate Scott Jordan and a small band of supporters have been waving the rainbow flag and encouraging North-West Coast residents to vote “yes” every morning over the past two weeks. It is unclear how many of the “toots” he receives at one of the Bass Highway’s major intersections are in support of his campaign.