Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The statement contained in the newsletter was that, ‘Malcolm Turnbull has embarked on a personal crusade to convince his cabinet colleagues.’ The article also quoted the honourable member, ‘I pledge to continue the fight until justice is done.’

I personally accept that the honourable member is entirely genuine and sincere in expressing those views—that is accepted. But clearly, now that he is in the position of Leader of the Opposition, he has the ability to exert a little more than a degree of influence on his colleagues. It was sincerely disappointing that the honourable member did not counter some of those more extreme sentiments that were expressed during the course of the debate yesterday. Indeed, I note that a spokesman for the honourable member told the Age newspaper—or, at least, it is reported in the Age newspaper—that the honourable member had spoken on the first reading of the bill. I think the record will show otherwise.

But, at the end of the day, these reforms are long overdue. They do nothing more and nothing less than remove discrimination against a group of fellow Australians who have been discriminated against for far too long. They do not undermine in any way, shape or form the institution of marriage. That is made quite clear in legislation that has been supported in this House—that marriage is between a man and a woman. As I say, these reforms do nothing more than remove unjustified discrimination that has occurred for too long. I genuinely believe that the Leader of the Opposition is sincere in his views on this matter, and we look forward to him using his new position to secure passage of the legislation.

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