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

My question is to the Prime Minister. How can the Prime Minister claim to lead the party of the individual when he will not allow individual members of his party to exercise a free vote on marriage equality?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As is well known, when I was asked about this prior to the election, I said that if this matter—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney will cease interjecting.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government have exactly done what we said we would do before the election. Before the election, I said that if this matter was to come up in this parliament it would be dealt with by the coalition party room in the usual way. I said before the election on a number of occasions that if this matter was to come up in this parliament it would be dealt with by the coalition party room in the usual way. I have got to say that it was dealt with by the coalition party room in a very decent and respectful way over six hours yesterday.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order: the Prime Minister said at this dispatch box it was a matter for this parliament.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This matter was discussed by our party room in a very decent and respectful way for fully six hours yesterday; some 90 members of the party room had their say. By a very strong majority, essentially by two to one, we decided to confirm our existing position for this term of parliament, the position that we took to the election, that marriage is between a man and a woman. Our strong disposition is to go into the next election with a commitment to put this to the people. That is our disposition. Our strong disposition going into the next election is to put this to the people. Going into the next election there will be two parties with very different positions. Members opposite will want the politicians to decide. This government wants the people to decide. Over there they want the politicians' choice. Over here we want the people's choice, and what could be fairer than leaving this to the people of Australia?