Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is an important day—Bowman having had a survey on same-sex marriage now four times in the last three years—that the exposure draft finally comes to this great House. Isn't it obvious today, as the opposition get themselves into a Stuka dive to try and attack the plebiscite however they can, that their 'greatest social challenge of a generation' that they did nothing about for six years in government is suddenly the most important thing but can be delayed three years with no problem? This is a situation where the Labor Party are saying: 'We want no gay marriage under any opposition that Bill Shorten leads. Whatever we can do to stop it now is good, including killing off the will of the people and the voice of the people.' You know what groups are most fearful of a plebiscite? They are the groups that are most fearful of the result of a plebiscite—the voice of the Australian people—which on a social issue should be heard to reflect the community values in a social policy change.

What is it about this opposition leader? He used to support tax cuts for small business; he does not any more once he is running for Prime Minister. He used to support a public voice and a vote on same-sex marriage and does not any more. After six years of doing nothing, suddenly they will do everything to stymie the vote of the people and a plebiscite. Give the Australian people a say. We deserve a public vote on this. And let's be honest: the mental health case that we cannot deal with a plebiscite in Australia for the mental health outcomes has been said by a mental health expert who was at the Labor Party post-election party on election night. What is that for an expert piece of advice?

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