Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I do not want to go into the details of a private conversation with him, but I am quite satisfied that the Australian people are capable of having a civil discussion on this issue and resolving it. I recognise and have some understanding of the additional mental stress and the prevalence of mental illness among the gay community. There is no issue about that. We understand that. The member for Sydney and I both understand that, in particular, given our electorates. We have both been involved with organisations that seek to address it and indeed have supported them, I might say, very collaboratively. We do understand that, but nonetheless this is a big issue. It is a big issue that concerns all Australians, and we believe that all Australians should be entitled to have their say.

We took the plebiscite proposal to the election as part of our platform. We won the election. It is a perfectly democratic process. The honourable members opposite should remember that it was not so long ago that their own leader, the member for Maribyrnong, supported a plebiscite. He advocated a plebiscite. So what has changed?

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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