Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I agree that the second half of the initial contribution from the member for Stirling was related to questions in the minds of the coalition as to whether the legal advice is persuasive or not. The member for Stirling has used phrases such as an 'abundance of caution'. The advice to the government is that no such amendment is necessary. But in the second half of the contribution just now of the member for Stirling he has sought to create a debate around the Marriage Act. That says to me that the true motivation for these amendments is not the role of either a minister or the parliament in making laws or overriding laws of the territories but one thing and one thing only and that is base politics.

I now expect the coalition in my own area of Rankin will say, 'This proves that the member for Rankin does not believe in the Marriage Act.' For the record, any such claim would be false. I expect nothing more of the Liberal Party because they resort to misleading tactics. We are happy to support this legislation that has been put into the parliament today, but I will not stand here and cop the misrepresentation of motives on the part of this government in supporting this legislation. If there is in the future to be a debate about the Marriage Act, let us have a debate about the Marriage Act. This is simply another politically opportunistic manoeuvre on the part of the coalition to go around electorates and seek to misrepresent the views of various members of parliament. For the record, for the 50th time, as the member for Rankin, I consider marriage to be a union between a man and a woman as set out under the Marriage Act. That does not mean in any way, shape or form that we do not or cannot support this legislation. We do support the legislation. They are completely consistent propositions. Question put:

That the amendment (Mr Keenan's) be agreed to.

The House divided. [17:15]

(The Speaker—Mr Harry Jenkins)

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.

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