Page 2653 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016

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a national plebiscite on marriage equality remains the currently policy of the Liberal National Party Coalition

The motion in front of us, which with a free vote we have the chance to say yes to, goes on to state:

(2) this Assembly further calls on the Australian Parliament to:

(a) consider the issue of marriage equality as a priority when sittings resume; and

(b) resolve the issue through a free vote of all Members of Parliament …

It is a statement. Either you support a plebiscite or you say to the Australian parliament, “It is within your powers to get on and just do this.”

The third part of the motion before us today that we all have a free vote on—Mr Hanson has made quite a point about that—calls on this government, calls on us as leaders in this community, to demonstrate that the ACT is the most lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex-friendly state there is and calls for strong support for marriage equality. It calls on us to engage in local and national debate. It calls on us to support government employees to be free and open in their participation and calls on us to declare and show our support for the LGBIQ community.

In the context of being respectful, not to have a division called on this would be the most sensible way to go. In closing in the few minutes I have remaining, I note that there are many stories in sport and coming out of the Olympics. But I will just probably end on this headline:

Sealed with a kiss: Girlfriend proposes to Brazilian player after rugby final.

This is a demonstration of love where two came together on a most public playing field and a marriage proposal was put, and accepted, I am very pleased to say. In that country they can get married but if someone went on to any of our playing fields and put a proposal of marriage to their loved one, this community would not permit it. I think times have changed. Things must change. This motion should be supported as it is and we will not be supporting the amendment from Mr Hanson.

Question put:

That Mr Hanson’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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