Coalition for Marriage (Australia)

The organisation had a lead role in lobbying for the "No" case - associated with the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. Other organisations partnering with the Coalition for Marriage,^[2] in opposition to same-sex marriage, include the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Australian Christian Lobby and Marriage Alliance.^[3][4]

The first Coalition for Marriage advertisement on TV featured three women and focused on the Safe Schools education program.^[5] In the ad, the women – Heidi McIvor,^[6] Cella White,^[7] and Pansy Lai^[8] – ask about potential gender confusion issues for children. The ad was supported by Conservative senator Cory Bernardi^[9] and by social commentator Andrew Bolt.^[10] The ad was criticised as being inaccurate and for linking the survey (and same-sex marriage in general) to Safe Schools,^[11] and by Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten who said, "Malcolm Turnbull ... gave the green light to this rubbish".^[12][13] Mothers of transgender children criticised the ad for bringing their children into the same-sex marriage debate.^[14] The three women and supporters of the yes position have all commented on the responses to the ad.^[15] Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg expressed that he "did not have a problem" with the advertisement, stating that he has "great confidence in the public's ability to make their own decisions as to whether they'll be voting yes or no".^[16]

One of the women in the ad (Dr Lai) was threatened that she would be shot “this week”^[17][18][19] and a campaign was initiated (subsequently pulled) to revoke her medical registration.^[20][21]