Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I want to make a brief contribution in this third reading debate on the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Bill 2008 in part to respond to Senator Bob Brown’s contribution. With the introduction and, hopefully, passage of this legislation—and subject to the House considering the amendments and requests that we passed today on the previous bill of this legislative package—this government delivers on a very clear election commitment. The terms of the election commitment were completely transparent to the Australian people when we went to the election. Our views on marriage were clear, and I have previously outlined our position in relation to marriage. We also said that we would remove discrimination from Commonwealth laws and seek to treat same-sex couples legally as heterosexual de facto couples were treated.

In terms of this legislation, let us understand how significant it is that the Commonwealth government has finally moved to do this. No government in Australia’s history has ever sought in this chamber to remove this discrimination. In fact, the last time I can recall Commonwealth legislation where these issues were dealt with was with the addition of sexual preferences as an additional ground of discrimination under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission regulations. Through you, Madam Acting Deputy President Troeth, I ask Senator Brown: when was that? Under a previous Labor government. I understand the position that Senator Brown puts but I would simply say that there are many in the Labor family who have spent much of their life regarding—and are here in this chamber because we do regard—equality of opportunity as an important principle. Whether we have pressed that on the basis of class or race or gender or, as now, sexual orientation, we do regard all these issues as important. Frankly, to have a suggestion that people who have pressed notions of equality on a whole range of fronts, most recently in terms of same-sex couples, are somehow beholden to what Senator Brown calls a ‘bigoted minority’ is a most unfair contribution.

I acknowledge there are differences of views in this chamber on these issues. Frankly, I think in large part the debate until now has demonstrated the capacity of individuals to recognise fundamentally the equality of other Australians. That has been the way in which the debate in this chamber has proceeded to date. We on this side welcome the passage of the package of bills. They deliver, on an important day for us, on a very important election commitment. Most importantly, they will deliver the sort of equality before the law that same-sex couples have never previously experienced.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a third time.