Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. Yesterday, the member for Sydney and I introduced a bill to make marriage equality a reality, but the bill will not progress unless the Prime Minister schedules debate and a vote during government business.

We should be debating our private member's bill during government business because it is the fastest way to achieve marriage equality, we should be debating our private member's bill during government business because it is the cheapest way to achieve marriage equality, and we should be debating our private member's bill during government business because it is the least harmful and divisive way to achieve marriage equality.

In explaining why we would seek to debate the private member's bill during government business, I note the support of the members of the crossbench for a free vote in the parliament. Today, I call upon the Prime Minister to go back to the views that he once cherished and vote with us to allow the private member's bill and make marriage equality a reality once and for all.

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