John Madigan (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Children have rights, and their rights should be our primary concern. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all children have the right to know and be cared for by their parents. Despite all the love and care that can be given in a same-sex-parents household, children grieve when they do not have a mother and a father. That is why, I believe, we as legislators should not normalise a family structure that encourages children to be raised in anything less than the ideal family unit. Our laws should uphold the highest ideals.

I do recognise, however, that there are different views on this issue. This is a matter of conscience for all Australians, not just us as politicians. I therefore call on the government to agree to a plebiscite on this issue, to be held in conjunction with the next federal election.