Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very pleased rise to congratulate Elleanor Hoffman from Montmorency in my electorate of Jagajaga. Last year, as part of a grade 6 project at Watsonia Heights Primary School, Elleanor set about organising a petition calling for marriage equality. The petition reads:

Same sex marriage should be legalised since we the people of Australia believe that it is the right of every man and women, regardless of their sexual preference, to have the marital rights.

Today I am pleased to say that Elleanor's petition on marriage equality was tabled in the House of Representatives. The petition was signed by 254 local residents, all of whom are looking forward to the Australian parliament finally amending the Marriage Act to be inclusive of same-sex marriage. I remember seeing Elleanor on Burgundy Street in Heidelberg last September canvassing passers-by to sign her petition.

Marriage equality is a cause that I support. I voted for marriage equality when the matter came before the parliament in 2012. Elleanor hopes that if marriage equality is finally achieved we will be able to forge a society in which LGBTI Australians are included and not excluded. In this endeavour, Elleanor, you have my full support. Well done, Elleanor both for your activism and your commitment to marriage equality.