Peter Dutton wanted a plebiscite on marriage equality. Why not hold another on his nuclear fantasy?

‘Far from indulging the opposition’s nuclear fantasy, a plebiscite is the best way to make people wake up to it.’ Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

When the Coalition was paralysed by whether or not to legislate marriage equality, it turned to the wisdom of the people.

The plebiscite was divisive, an obstacle to marriage equality which could have been dealt with by a free parliamentary vote, and which many queer people felt was a referendum on their dignity.